Off-duty Canine Incident

The Calgary Police Service is currently investigating an incident where a child was bitten by an off-duty police dog.

At approximately 6 p.m., on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, an off-duty CPS Canine Unit officer and Service dog were in the fenced backyard of their home in Aspen Hills. The dog broke out of the yard and proceeded onto the street in front of the house, where it encountered three children playing.

A 12-year-old boy ran away from the dog, at which point the dog chased him into his nearby home and bit him causing puncture wounds to his leg. His father, who was in the home, attempted to get the dog off just as the Canine handler ran in to the home assist.

The handler secured the dog back at his home and returned to help render first aid to the child. The boy was transported to hospital where he was treated and released.

The CPS is providing support to the family.

Police have launched an investigation into this incident and will be conducting a review into the policies and procedures of the Canine Unit. The Solicitor General’s Office as well as the Director of Law Enforcement have also been made aware, as has the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team. The investigation, however, will remain with the CPS.