South Los Angeles woman calls for abolition of dog squads after brutal attack

A South Los Angeles woman has filed a lawsuit demanding that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department disband its canine unit after she was attacked by one of its dogs.

Rosa Ramirez, 45, suffered permanent injuries to her left hand – her dominant hand – in the attack, her lawyers said at a news conference Friday.

On February 22, 2023, at approximately 9:00 p.m., officers were searching for a wanted person near Ramirez’s home, and she opened her door to speak to an officer who wanted access to the home.

During this conversation, she said, she was attacked by a dog that she estimated to weigh between 23 and 29 kilograms and that her left hand was crushed.

“The department has tolerated these dogs causing disfiguring, disabling and life-altering injuries. They have ripped off parts of people’s faces and noses and torn them apart,” said attorney Colleen Flynn. “The injuries Ms. Ramirez suffered are typical of the type of injuries police dogs cause.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it “has not officially received this complaint, but uses handler control dogs in certain high-risk situations under strict guidelines.”

“The Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau conducted an internal investigation and the findings were presented to the Executive Force Review Committee, which includes the Office of Inspector General,” the statement said. “The Department is committed to ensuring that handler control dogs are used in accordance with our policies and rigorous training standards.”