They are four-legged friends of law enforcement -- but in the past 21/2 years, Indianapolis police officers have proved far more deadly to their K-9s than the accused crooks the dogs often chase.
Two of the dogs have been shot by police officers, but none has been killed by a suspect.
That's why IPD, which has the nation's second-largest K-9 squad, is making changes to protect its animals while allaying fears among the street-beat patrol officers. Those steps include proposals to change policy, toughen investigations of attacks and add extra training for street cops. Ironically, because police often see firsthand the dogs' effectiveness at snaring fleeing suspects, many have a real fear of the animals' ferocity.
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