Georgetown police ask for ‘grace and understanding’ after incident involving police dog
The Georgetown Police Department is investigating after an incident involving one of its police dogs in which one person was bitten and an officer also was hurt.
The police department said it happened at about 6 p.m. Thursday.
“When officers arrived at the scene, they located a victim suffering from a dog bite wound,” the department said in a statement Tuesday night. “An officer also suffered physical injuries while attempting to remove K9 Rex from the premises. As a result, K9 Rex is no longer in service for our Agency.”
Sgt. Brandon Wallen said the incident happened at the home of one of the handlers, and Rex was not on duty when it occurred.
He said the victim and officer’s injuries were not life-theatening.
“As a community, we ask for your grace and understanding,” the police department said in its statement. “Please keep our officers, specifically our handlers and their families, in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Wallen declined to answer questions Tuesday night about whether the dog had been euthanized.
He said the case is “still under investigation.”
The police department said in its statement that “more information will be released in accordance with department policy while this incident is under review.”
The Georgetown police welcomed Rex to the department in an August 2023 Facebook post, saying he and his handler, Officer Will Lykins, had just finished a six-week basic K9 handler course in South Carolina.
“Rex is a 1 ½ years old, dual purpose, Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix,” the post stated. “We are very excited to see this handler and K9 team work together.”
Last September, the department shared a photo of Rex on Facebook, saying he had alerted during a traffic stop, helping find pills and suspected methamphetamine concealed in a hard-shelled case held underneath the vehicle by magnets.
“We are very proud of you Rex,” the post stated. “You are a good boy!”
Wallen said the Georgetown Police Department has one other K-9 unit besides Rex.
