Toledo appeals 'dangerous' designation of police dog

K-9 German Shepherd bit a 9-year-old boy on June 21

8/4/2014

Toledo officials today appealed a “dangerous” dog designation assigned to a police K-9 after the German Shepherd bit a 9-year-old boy.

The appeal was filed in Toledo Municipal Court by Adam Loukx, the city's law director. The appeal only states that the city “disagrees” with the Lucas County Canine & Care ruling, which was offered by Director Julie Lyle on July 24.

The dog, J.J., on June 21, bit a boy at Officer Brett Kohlman's home. Officer Kohlman is J.J.'s handler; the boy was there playing with the officer‘s children.‍

When Ms. Lyle offered the dangerous designation, her report did not cite specifics about the police dog. Toledo police sent the dog and Officer Kohlman to work with its original trainer in Wapakoneta, Ohio. The trainer, Al Gill, wrote in a report that J.J. did not exhibit any unnecessary aggressive behavior.