The New Orleans Police Department will cease using K-9 dogs to apprehend suspects until additional training can be given to officers, the agency announced in a public statement.
Police Superintendent Ronal W. Serpas made the decision after receiving information from the Department of Justice that the apprehension area of the K-9 Division "showed deficiencies." The agency is now under a broad-ranging federal probe by the DOJ.
The department will continue to use K-9 dogs for narcotic investigations and bomb detection, according to the statement. If an apprehension by K-9 is needed, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has agreed to provide assistance.
