CHIEF'S STATISTICS SHOW THREE K-9 BITES SINCE 1989, BUT COUNCIL PRESIDENT
DISPUTES NUMBERS

Dog bites and Laurel's K-9 officers have received a some attention in
recent weeks because of an ongoing Civil Service Commission case.

However, statistics given by police chief John Waterson show there have
been three dog bites since K-9 officers since they first joined the police
force in October of 1989.

The latest dog bite incident occurred March 26, 2001, during the arrest of
Larry K. Breland. Breland alleged that Officer Mark Brewer allowed his K-9
partner, Rex, to attack him while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground.

"The last dog bite we had was about seven-years ago. An individual
burglarized a place and was running and the dog caught him," Waterson said.
"Nine years ago, we had another incident but I can't locate the details of
that one."

Waterson said the dogs are not here to attack citizens. An example given
for dog's use was if there was a burglar in a building. Then the officer
would send the dog in to apprehend the suspect.

"I've seen a lot of changes since I started this profession 38 years ago,"
Waterson said. "When I first started out in the business, you very seldom
found a burglar who was armed. Nowadays, you very seldom find one who isn't
armed. So you have to send the dog in for safety purposes in situations
like that."

Some citizens are concerned as to why only black residents are the ones
being bitten by the dogs. Of the incidents mentioned, Waterson said two
were black and one was white.

"Dog bites are definitely not a common occurrence," Waterson said. "In
fact, it is an uncommon occurrence. In the meantime the dogs have done an
awful lot of drug apprehension and things of that sort."

Waterson added that his information came from 'Force Forms,' which are
filled out and placed with the offense.

City council president Manuel Jones, who has raised concerns about the dog
bites recent weeks, has his doubts about Waterson's statistics.

"I totally disagree with the police chief. A young female by the name of
Savannah Ramsey was bitten inside the police station. Before that, a young
man by the name of Donald Ray House was bitten, and he had to have 36
stitches. These were not burglary cases," Jones said. "There was also
another one after House who's last name was Dean but I can't recall his
first name."

House is the incident the chief referred to seven years ago.

"I was attacked by two of Harold Buckhault's dogs. It was named Jitney
Jungle," House said. "I broke into a hair salon that was next to the water
place.

"I took a little boom box radio. I had walked through downtown and was at
Sears Ward curb store, across the street from Beard feed store, getting
ready to cross the track. I saw the police coming and I put the radio down.
They just pulled up and let the dogs out without saying anything.

"The dogs were headed straight for me so I ran. The dogs caught me in the
field of the Projects on the corner of South 4 and Maple. The police were
telling me to stop moving and stuff, but I was steady moving because how
can you be still when two dogs are biting you?"

Waterson said everyone's emotions are on edge right now after the Breland
incident, but added that the dogs are a necessary part of the police work.

"We have recovered an awful lot of illegal drugs because the dogs were able
to identify where they were hidden. That's really the dog's primary
function," Waterson said.

"We can't just pull people over and have the dog search their car. But if a
known drug dealer is pulled over and the dog circles the car and smells
drugs, he gives an alert. This alert is probable cause for us to search and
recover the drugs."

Waterson said the dogs are also useful in a drug raid because the dog can
find drugs that are hidden in the wall or anywhere.

Jones said an ordinance was passed stating the dogs would strictly be used
for drug dogs and has no objection to when the dogs are properly used.

"In my opinion, that's what the dogs are supposed to be used for, to locate
drugs," Jones said. "If a K-9 officer goes to a building I have no problem
with them sending the dog in. That's fine. But, something is wrong
somewhere. Of every bite I have heard of, all the people have been black. I
don't know of a white that's ever been bitten.

"Whenever someone is asking a question about the drug dogs, the truth needs
to be told. If you don't know the truth don't say anything."