POLICE IN RAID SHOOT CHARLIE THE DRUG DOG

CONWAY -- One or more Conway police officers shot and killed an
Arkansas State Police drug dog during a raid Monday morning on a
suspected drug house, authorities said.

"They didn't know it was the canine unit's dog," said Capt. A.J. Gary
of the Conway Police Department. "They thought it was the suspect's
dog coming after them."

Charlie, a 6-year-old German shepherd who has been with the state
police for about four years, was shot twice while in a house at 21
Gail Lane, just south of Conway, police said.

The shooting took place during the execution of a search warrant by
the Conway Police Department SWAT team, the Conway Regional Drug Task
Force, the Faulkner County sheriff's office and state police, who were
assisting in the operation.

After entering the residence, SWAT team members encountered the dog
and apparently did not recognize Charlie as being a state police dog,
police said.

State police and Conway police would not disclose further details of
what happened Monday pending the completion of their investigation.
Gary said the department conducts an internal investigation every time
a shooting occurs.

Authorities would not disclose how the dog entered the home or the
identity of the officer or officers who shot the dog.

The raid resulted in the arrest of Lillie Mae Piggee, 39, who is
expected to be charged with maintaining a drug house, possession of
crack cocaine with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia
and endangering the welfare of a minor, Gary said.

Cpl. Karl Byrd, the state police canine coordinator, said Monday that
Charlie was one of 16 dogs owned by the agency and used in a variety
of situations, including drug investigations.

Byrd called the death of Charlie "a very big loss," but "we feel it is
better to lose the dog rather than a human officer. We don't like
losing either one."

Charlie was initially trained to detect drugs, Byrd said. "He was
responsible for numerous large seizures of drugs from Interstates 30
and 40," he said.

Over the years, Charlie performed so well for the state police that
the agency sent the dog for training in assisting officers during
special weapons and tactics team operations, Byrd said.

During a SWAT operation, Charlie might be called upon to help nab a
violent suspect or make initial entry into a residence to look for
suspects, Byrd said. That helped reduce the danger for human officers,
he said.

Charlie was trained so he would complete his task and ignore any
distractions at the scene, Byrd said. "He could be gassed and it would
have no effect," he said.

It likely will take several months to replace Charlie, Byrd estimated.
Although several breeds of dog can be trained to carry out the various
tasks of a police dog, the temperament of the animal is a determining
factor, he said.

The state police must find a dog that can interact well with officers,
and that can take some time, Byrd said.

It also is expensive to train a dog, the cost running to as much as
$8,000, Byrd said. Trainers sometimes donate their time to the state
police, but there is no guarantee that that will happen, he said.

Charlie was a friendly dog, Byrd said. For a time, he was Charlie's
handler and the dog interacted well with him and his family.

"The only time Charlie was aggressive was when he was instructed to be
so," Byrd said.

Trooper Bobby Brown, Charlie's latest handler, will determine how the
dog is disposed of, Byrd said. There are no plans to conduct an
autopsy of the dog or to remove the bullet.