Louisville Police Allowed Police Dog to Attack a 14-Year-Old Child Who Was Complying with Demands, and Other DOJ Findings

Earlier this week, the Department of Justice released a 90-page report detailing its multi-year investigation of the Louisville Metro Police Department in Kentucky following the murder of Breonna Taylor.

Among the DOJ’s findings was mention of a 14-year-old Black child being attacked by a police dog, while complying with the officer.

According to the report, "The officer was leading his dog to search for a person suspected of a home invasion. After searching for several minutes, the officer saw the teenager lying on the ground, face down in the grass…Immediately after noticing the teen, the officer deployed his dog off-leash — without giving any warning — and ordered the dog to bite the teen at least seven times."

At one point the officer yelled “stop fighting my dog” while the dog was attacking the child’s arm. The child was hospitalized for severe injuries as a result of the attack.

Here are some other findings from the report:

LMPD uses excessive force, including unjustified neck restraints and the unreasonable use of police dogs and tasers.

LMPD conducts searches based on invalid warrants.

LMPD unlawfully executes search warrants without knocking and announcing.

LMPD unlawfully stops, searches, detains, and arrests people during street enforcement activities, including traffic and pedestrian stops.

LMPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities.

LMPD violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech critical of policing.

Louisville Metro and LMPD discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to them in crisis.

What should happen now?

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