OMAHA, Neb. -- A law enforcement K-9 was disciplined during an arrest Tuesday, and KETV cameras were rolling. Viewers lit up our phone lines, concerned about the dog.
Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Shea Degan and his K-9 partner were part of the arrest of Michael Bartlett, 26. Bartlett was in a brief standoff with officers at his mother's home on Park Avenue Tuesday. The K-9 unit was called in, and the dog was going to be asked to retrieve the suspect if he did not surrender. Bartlett did surrender, and as Degan and the dog were taped leaving the apartment, Degan took the dog under control.
"When you take the dog out after a situation like that, where the dog is not deployed, it's pretty common for the dog to be wound up," said Sgt. Ed Van Buren, a certified K-9 instructor.
In the KETV video, Degan is seen reprimanding the dog for not obeying his commands. Van Buren explained what happened.
"What he's trying to do is get that dog to lay down, and the dog -- you can tell in the video -- is real excited," Van Buren said.
Van Buren said the discipline is necessary. Because of the dangerous work they do, the dogs must obey on the first command.
"It's imperative the dog understand the handler is the one in charge, and the K-9 has to obey the handler. That's for the dog's safety, the handler's safety and the public's safety," Van Buren said.
The dogs in the K-9 unit live with their handlers and become part of the officer's family.
"I don't know a handler who doesn't care about their dog. Although they are a work dog, you become attached to them. They're like a partner. You don't want to see anything happen to them," Van Buren said.
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