Police Put Bite On Wayward Helper’s Career

Once, Reiko was a good dog. But after the police dog bit officers once too often, he was kicked off the force.

“He once was an asset, but now he is a liability,” Chief Bob Jones said Thursday. “He’s never bitten a citizen and he’s never bitten a crook. It’s always been an officer.”

In a 1994 standoff between police and a man suspected of shooting an officer, police planned to send Reiko into an apartment to disarm the suspect. When police failed to bust open the door, Reiko bit an officer on the thigh.

Earlier this month, Reiko bit a Malmstrom Air Force Base police officer during a night training mission.

Neither officer was badly hurt; Reiko did not even break the skin.

The German shepherd will stay with his handler, officer Paul Smith.