The Malinois is a common law enforcement Shepherd
A 4-year-old
Belgian Malinois, named Renzo, has been kicked off the force in Coconut Creek, Florida. He had been on the
force for a year and a half. The incident began on February 11, in a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot.
According to Margate police, Renzo and his handler, Officer Carl DiBlasi, 53, went to the doughnut shop to meet a Coconut Creek Police Sgt. Brandi Delvecchio. The sergeant began to pet Renzo, who was in DiBlasi's patrol car, and the dog lunged at her.
DiBlasi warned Delvecchio to back away, and struggled to restrain the dog, which was halfway out the car window. Still holding Renzo's harness, DiBlasi tried to undo his seat belt but lost his grip. The black K9 "sprung out of the marked vehicle," Margate police said in a report.
DiBlasi screamed Renzo's name and three times hollered "fuey!" an obedience command for "incorrect behavior." The dog started to charge another officer, then changed course and dashed toward doughnut shop employee Robert Doherty, 37, Coral Springs, who was reaching into his car for his apron, Margate police said.
Renzo had already bitten a Coconut Creek officer back in November. The good news is that no one was maimed or killed. Renzo will live out his days with his Officer DiBlasi. The bad news is that this kind of punitive action on the part of law enforcement seems to be reserved for bad cop dogs and not bad cop people.