External investigations are underway in a case where a police officer allegedly abused his K9 in Vacaville, Calif. late last year, according to local officials.
“We want to remind the public that there are three outside investigations,” said city fire chief and interim city spokesman Kris Concepcion.
The probes focus on the mental and physical impacts on the dog — who was a police K9 in training when the horrifying incident occurred late last year — as well as the officer’s actions and the K9 program’s training policies and protocols.
“We’re on it. We’re staying on it,” Concepcion reassured. “As soon as we can legally let the public know the details, we will, whatever we can legally release. We want to have as transparent a release as possible.”
Footage captured on camera by a passerby of the abuse went viral in December, prompting widespread demands for justice. In the video, the dog yelps out in pain as the officer punches him in the face.
“It was very clear that this was not training. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The only thing I could think to do was start recording,” disturbed onlooker Robert Palomino, who recorded and released the appalling clip, told Lady Freethinker.
The officer reportedly struck the dog after the K9 refused to return a toy he had received as a reward for completing a training exercise. A veterinarian gave the dog a clean bill of health, and he remains in a professional handler’s care.
The investigations could result in discipline, additional training, policy and procedural changes. But for now, the fight for justice for this innocent dog continues.
If you haven’t yet, sign Lady Freethinker’s petition urging the Vacaville Police Department to revisit its K9 program’s protocols, showing that animal abuse is always unacceptable.

This is no cop! He is an evil cruel animal abuser and should face alot of jail time. He is a monsterous person who is not only a dangerbto his dog but humans as well. This is wrong.
Serve and protect my backside! If he was summoned to a call like this, he would be obligated to protect the animal and charge or arrest the person doing it. Has he been charged? Not just a poor excuse for an officer but a very poor excuse for a human being!
To be so cruel to an animal, this person should never be in a position to have a badge to “protect” others.
Funny how this LEO can get away with felony animal cruelty.
You and I would, and should, be arrested and prosecuted for treating a dog, or cat, or horse … like this.
K9 Officers are exactly that, Officers. With partners. Who should have their backs.
Those dogs would give their lives FOR their partners.
They deserve the same consideration and respect FROM their partners.
The Hell with discipline, additional training, policy and procedural changes.
This Idiot deserves to be incarcerated.
That officer should never be allowed to work with animals ever again! Institute permanent ban. What he did is criminal.
No matter who it is nothing gives anybody the right to torture and hurt animals
Have you found out who the guy is yet
That single-celled beast must be imprisoned and subjected to the same treatment as this defenceless innocent dog!
Don’t ever release that rubbish again!
I’ve been fighting this for 40 years. Unfortunately, the media helps the K9 units by always presenting this as “one bad apple.” That way, people can say, “get him fired,” the department says “we”re handling it,” that particular officer may be suspended (or transferred) temporarily in order to appease the public,
AND THEN,
It goes back to business as usual, which is that ALL handlers are TAUGHT to do this to their K9 “partners,” and worse. Behind the scenes, those dogs’ lives are hell, and when they aren’t being hanged, kicked, beaten, or on patrol, they are put into solitary confinement, which is very stressful for a young, active, pack animal. That way, it creates a Stockholm syndrome. The dogs lives consist of isolation, patrol, torture.
http://www.stopk9torture.com
WOW! How horribly awful to think that this has been hidden from the public for so long! Leaving us to believe that these dogs lead exceptional lives because of the exceptional roles they have in each individual officers lives. My understanding has always been that they were a partner. You wouldn’t see them treating a human partnee with such disrespect now would you? The thought of any animal being abused sickens me to my stomach but even more so, those that will give their lives over their owners or those whose role in the owner’s life feeds their families. They should be treated like gods, without them they’d be and have nothing. It is stories like these that when brought to my attention lead me ever closer to the belief that our world is broken and people like us who think animal abuse and/or torture are wrong are almost the “elite”. It is so seemingly rampant amongst people that finding any words to express the disgust I hold feels asinine. I commend and thank you for yours years of commitment to trying to bring this to an end. Hopefully now is yours and the K9’s time! LADY FREETHINKER DID YOU SEE THIS?
All animals pets or wild deserve good happy lives where wildlife can roam without worry and pets should be loved and cared for and not beaten or abused
Handler must be sentenced to working in a shelter for 6 months.
Fire him. Jail him.
This officer needs to be fired! This is animal abuse and he should know better!
Please don’t let this officer get this dog back. It is just heartbreaking what he did to his dog!!
it was president trump that put into law that to abuse an animal was an felony. why havent i heard about that in a situation like this?
Officer or not deserves to be punished by doing the same thing to him. He is a monster that needs to be taught a very physical intense lesson! He should also be fired and not allowed any contact to animals. There’s no excuse whatsoever for his actions against a poor defenseless dog! I don’t care if the K9 bit him…you don’t do that!
I totally agree, Kathleen Turner!
Do not understand cruelty to animals. And the officer wasn’t punished??????? So much cruelty on our earth which I am fighting daily!
Police officers who think they ARE the law ought to be fired. Unless this guy did not know abusing animals is illegal and he should be charged and kicked out. Personally, I feel that the police have more of an obligation to act within the confines of the law and should be punished equally or even more severely given the positions they hold.
What is wrong with people!!!!
I am disgusted to know that. Dogs which are pets are being used for dog meat!!!! What is wrong with peoplr?? It is inhumane barbaric and downright cruel!!! BAN this forever. Never to be heard of again!!!. Education needs to include. Dogs are our Pets!!!!. Anything beyond that should be BANNED!!!!.
This type of Police men should not be allowed to wear the Police Uniforms & pretend top be working for the society. SERVE & PROTECT DOES NOT COME WITHIN SUCH CRUEL MAN’S HEART. This man is a hot tempered vicious individual. HE SHOULD NOT BE RAKING THE TAX PAYERS MONEY WHILE COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST THE OTHER BEINGS.
What an appalling and sadistic assault.
We do not need this type of police officer working, If he can repeatably punch a poor animal what will he do to humans? Please make him pay for what he did or has done before this.
Animals need are help they are voiceless innocent victims enough is enough they have feelings too.
Sack him and never let him own any animal again he doesn’t deserve one.
Remove the dog and remove the raging maniac.
The best news of the day!!!!!
Thamk you for sharing!!!
COMMENT I was employed in law enforcement, and I want everyone to know that this is NOT an isolated incident. It is standard treatment of K9’s (and at least sometimes, other kinds of service dogs). It started in the military, and it permeates the paramilitary K9 units as well.
I don’t know if links are allowed in here, so if anyone is interested, please just look up Stop K9 Torture. The chapter “Denials and Justifications”. deals with their standard lies, euphemisms, and manipulation of public opinion.
“…allegedly abused” and “a veterinarian gave the dog a clean bill of health”?! Isn’t it amazing the severe beatings these dogs can take and remain unharmed? That must be some “magical” veterinarian.
The vetereinarians in my town who did business with the PD and sheriffs dept. were silent. I imageine it was because of the reward vs punishment system. No one besides me wanted to go head to head with law enforcement, including local veterinarians I contacted, and they’d seen a lot, including K9’s killed by their handlers.
I’m sure that having the business of the K9 units means good money and no doubt rewards of other kinds. Just the opposite happens if one tries to expose it.
I have seen the sites and heard the stories and how they harass ppl who try to intervene.
Since the animals are better than them and actually know how to act they should stay away from them. They are too good for them and dont deserve them.
Wish:
hicuttsaota.