Gainesville city manager disbands police K-9 unit effective immediately

The K-9 unit at the Gainesville Police Department is being disbanded effective immediately until further notice.

City Manager Cynthia Curry announced the temporary executive decision Friday after weighing community input following the arrest of Terrell Bradley, who lost his eye during a K-9 apprehension. She said more review is needed before sending the dogs back out to the streets.

“As always, public safety comes first," Curry said in a prepared statement. "I am not denying the usefulness of a well-coordinated K-9 Unit. However, based on recent information, this affords us the opportunity to reassess how best to serve our neighbors. We will involve the community going forward."

On Feb. 20, GPD reinstated the K-9 unit, which has been the topic of debate amid protests and numerous city meetings.

The move comes as city officials are evaluating cuts to programs, operations and positions as they prepare for the upcoming budget to address what lawmakers described as a financial crisis. The department's dogs and officers, however, are expected to remain within the department for the time being.

“During this time, we will reassign the officers based on the best needs of the department," GPD Chief Lonnie Scott said in a news release. "The canines will remain in the care of their handlers until such time a decision is made.”

More:A Gainesville man lost his eye after a police K-9 attack. Community members demand answers

More:GPD internal investigation finds 5 officers violated policy in Terrell Bradley incident

Terrell Bradley controversy

In July 2022, 30-year-old Terrell Bradley was pulled over by police for what they claimed was a traffic violation. Bradley ultimately ran from the police and hid in some bushes nearby for close to an hour before being found by one of GPD's dogs.

Body-camera footage showed the dog maul Bradley into submission when he yelled for help and for officers to get the dog off. He stated numerous times that the dog had bit his eye, which he later lost during surgery.

An immediate protest ensued, with activists calling for the end of the unit. Police argued that Bradley was a convicted felon carrying a firearm and that running from the police warranted the K-9 unit, per standard procedure.

Footage and an investigation found several inconsistencies with initial statements made and resulted in the suspension of two officers for inappropriate comments following the arrest, while three others were disciplined. Bradley, meanwhile, has pleaded not guilty and is going through court proceedings.

The city has since created a new Public Safety Committee that met for the first time Monday, laying out further conversation about the K-9 unit and its role in the community. Committee chairwoman and City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker stressed the need for transparency and communication.

“I know that in our recent conversations regarding the K-9 unit that issue came back around," she said. "And so I am interested in having a conversation about what we might be able to do to give our neighbors and citizens of Gainesville the opportunity to engage with us about the issues that are happening in the community."

The Rev. Milford Griner, a member of the Police Advisory Council, said that he felt the decision was prudent but noted he would not vote to do away with the unit entirely.

"There must be more input from the community and the PAC members, especially our new members going forward," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville Police Department's K-9 unit disbands amid controversy