A member of Santa Fe’s K-9 unit is the focus of an internal investigation – KGET 17

SANTA FE, NM (AP) — As a puppy, there were high hopes that Ayke would help revive the Santa Fe Police Department’s K-9 program. Now, four years later, the German Shepherd has fallen from grace.

He has bitten more people than any other dog in the department’s K-9 unit and is the subject of an internal investigation for a March attack on one of the department’s own officers. The city is also defending itself against a lawsuit from an officer who underwent plastic surgery after being attacked during a training exercise in 2022, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

Police Chief Paul Joye declined a request for an interview from the newspaper. The investigation into the latest incident involving Ayke, one of the four dogs used by the police, is ongoing.

Like other law enforcement agencies across the country, the Santa Fe Police Department believes that sniffer dogs can be helpful in detecting illegal drugs or explosives and in apprehending suspects.

Several states considered bills earlier this year that would impose harsher penalties for injuring or killing police dogs. Proponents pointed out that thousands of dollars are spent training police dogs and that in many cases the animals are like family to their handlers.

Nevertheless, injuries caused by the animals have made headlines in Ohio, Utah and elsewhere in recent years.

The Marshall Project noted in 2020 that while there is no national database tracking the use of sniffer dogs, a survey found that bites have been documented in nearly every state. The nonprofit also pointed out that excessive-force lawsuits for dog bites are difficult to win because police officers are often immune from liability and federal civil rights laws do not typically cover innocent bystanders who are accidentally bitten.

Ayke is still on duty in Santa Fe. Deputy Police Chief Ben Valdez wrote in an email that the department is confident the dog poses no danger to the public.

When asked about the potential downsides of using these dogs, Valdez replied, “Police dogs are invaluable to our community. When used properly, there are no downsides.”

The police department purchased each of the animals for about $4,400 and paid $2,200 for the initial certification course, Valdez said. The department spends about $4,800 annually on dog food and another $2,000 on veterinary care.

The department requires K-9 units to complete at least 320 hours of training per year and requires handlers to undergo physical and mental health tests. The police dogs are certified by the Arizona-based National Police Canine Association.

Every bite by a police dog must be documented, according to Santa Fe policy. Those cases are reviewed to determine if policy was followed and if corrective action is needed for the handler, Valdez said.