LEBANON, IN — Video has surfaced of a Frankfort police officer apparently picking up his police-issued K9 and forcefully throwing it to the ground, resulting in an active investigation by the Boone County sheriff’s office.
The Lebanon Police Department responded to a report of animal abuse on March 21, the department said in a news release, after a caller reported they witnessed and recorded a Frankfort Police Department K9 handler “interacting” with his K9.
Frankfort Police Chief Scott Shoemaker confirmed on Wednesday that the officer seen in the video was Sgt. Ethan Cunningham with his issued K9, Taz.
In the video posted on social media, Cunningham can be seen from behind lifting Taz off the ground with both hands, holding the animal above his waistline as his legs dangle in the air, before throwing the dog back to the ground.
“The complainant believed the interaction between the Frankfort K9 handler and his K9 partner was cruel and unnecessary,” the Lebanon police news release said.
Because of a conflict of interest within the Lebanon Police Department, the investigation has been turned over to the Boone County sheriff’s office for a full investigation, the release said. A call to the Boone County sheriff’s office Wednesday was not immediately returned.
Shoemaker said the incident involving Cunningham was brought to his attention on Sunday, and Taz was placed in another officer’s care temporarily.
Taz has not been found to have any injuries as a result of the incident, Shoemaker said, but the dog is scheduled to have a full body wellness exam at the Purdue Small Animal Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. After the exam has been performed, Taz will be placed in the care of a police K9 boarding facility in Clinton County.
Shoemaker said Frankfort police are working to ensure that what was seen in the video is not part of their police K9 training program as a method to discipline dogs.
Cunningham is still on active duty with the department, but Shoemaker said he will make a decision on Cunningham’s status on Thursday.
“I have spoken with the Lebanon police chief, and we all agree and want to see a full investigation done,” Shoemaker said. “It was Lebanon police’s decision to turn it over to the sheriff, and we are going to stay out of it.”
Hal Johnston, former prosecutor and current adjunct criminal law professor at Indiana University in Indianapolis, said the likely charge that could come out of this investigation is misdemeanor animal neglect on a vertebrate animal.
Although the dog is a K9 officer, Johnston said battery against a public safety official is an unlikely charge in this case. As the language is written in Indiana state law, only battery against a human officer allows that charge to apply.
“The legislature has added further protections to police animals, but the dog is property of the police department,” Johnston said.
Shoemaker said Frankfort police are following state laws as their own internal investigation takes place alongside the Boone County sheriff’s criminal investigation.
But he is asking for the public’s patience.
“People are asking me for an immediate decision, and I can’t do that by Indiana state law. We have to let it play out. It will take time,” Shoemaker said. “Taz is safe, and I will know more later this afternoon when we receive the full report from the vet, which will be released to the public. It is a disturbing video, I agree, but I just urge people to have patience while we do our job.”
An attempt to contact the person who posted the video initially was not successful Wednesday.
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached at jellison@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Video that allegedly shows Frankfort officer throwing K9 down sparks probe
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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