Regarding John Camp’s Sept. 25 letter “If only legislators had a brain,” about police dogs, my husband had the privilege of being a K-9 officer in central Washington for six years. I know firsthand that these dogs are very well trained, both before and after they are assigned to a police officer. They are trained to specific commands, and their purpose is to assist the officer in doing his/her job. Locating and restraining suspects is part of that job.
K-9s are not trained as attack dogs. I was happy my husband had his “partner” with him — it made him and the city safer. A $10,000 fine for harming one of these dogs seems reasonable to me, considering how much it costs to replace one.
And, Mr. Camp, when a police dog is running after you, the best thing to do is stop running.