MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Common Council's Public Health and Safety Committee will discuss a proposal that would disallow canines from being as a use of force during a meeting on Thursday.
A council file sponsored by Alderman Khalif J. Rainey would address the Milwaukee Police Department's use of canines in use of force situations.
According to the City of Milwaukee, non-white suspects constitute the largest number of injuries resulting from dog bites, and the history of canines being used against people of color gives ample reasoning to amend the MPD’s Standard Operating Procedure.
“This legislation would change a policy that is both demeaning and dangerous to the citizens of Milwaukee,” Alderman Rainey said. “It has long been true that canines are used disproportionally on people of color, and it is necessary for us to take action to prevent anyone from being the victim of vicious canine attacks going forward.”
According to a press release from the city of Milwaukee, "hardly any protection was provided by the police during these marches and many protesters were left at the mercy of dogs that had been trained to kill."
