By David S. Fallis and Craig Whitlock Washington Post Staff Writers Sunday, December 30, 2001; Page A01
As a police officer chased a fleeing suspect in Brandywine 16 months ago, a large dog bolted out of the early morning darkness and tore into his legs, clamping down with such ferocity that he suffered permanently disabling injuries.
The officer and the animal had something in common: Both worked for the Prince George's County Police Department. The mistaken attack by the out-of-control police dog sent Cpl. Stephen Piazza to the hospital with lacerations and puncture wounds, according to records filed in a disability claim.
Since 1990, police dogs trained to apprehend suspects in Prince George's have instead attacked and mauled police officers, canine handlers and other law enforcement agents at least 43 times, according to public records and other documents.
In one case, an FBI agent was forced to shoot a police dog that attacked him during a standoff with a gunman. One corporal suffered bite wounds to the arm and stomach -- and then was bitten on the face two months later. A German shepherd named King attacked its police handler three times and sent as many as 40 other people to the hospital during its career.
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