Liability for police dogs varies from case to case. Most often, the law enforcement agency and the dog’s immediate handlers are the most likely legal targets for responsibility. Sometimes, though, other organizations are liable, such as the city government that hires the police.
The police often have wide jurisdiction when it comes to use of force. This includes using dogs to bite and restrain someone suspected of a crime. That said, legal protections are in place to guard against excessive use of force. The 1964 Civil Rights Act, for example, prohibits the use of unnecessary force against suspects.
The basis of a damage claim against a police department for a dog bite depends on the individual case. Sometimes, for example, plaintiffs may assert the police handlers were negligent in managing their dogs. In other cases, it may be the dog’s training wasn’t adequate and is unsafe to use in the field of justice.