A Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office deputy is recovering after being bitten by a dog while deputies investigated a domestic violence call Thursday evening in the Village of Lisbon.
Deputies were called to a home on Oakwood Road just after 7:20 p.m. on January 1. What began as a domestic violence investigation escalated when, authorities say, a 64-year-old man intentionally directed his dog toward a deputy during the encounter. The dog bit the deputy, and the deputy used deadly force to stop the attack.
The deputy was treated at a local hospital for injuries that were described as not life-threatening and is expected to recover. The man was taken into custody and faces a felony charge of battery to a law enforcement officer with the use of a dangerous weapon.
Training Tips
-
Ask about animals on the call. Build it into dispatch questions when possible and treat unknown dogs as a contact hazard until proven otherwise.
-
Use distance and barriers. Fences, doors, patrol vehicles, and corners buy time. Do not walk into a yard or threshold blind if you can stage and call the occupant out.
-
Assign roles on arrival. One officer manages the primary contact. One officer watches the hands and the dog.
-
Carry and train with a plan. Know your agency’s guidance on animal deterrent spray, OC, baton, TASER, and when deadly force may be necessary to stop an active attack.
-
After any bite, treat it like an officer safety exposure and evidence issue. Control bleeding, document injuries, and ensure supervisors and investigators capture the facts early while memories are fresh.
