Detroit TSA canine handler suspended over video of him aggressively pulling dog
A TSA canine handler was suspended from his duties after a viral video captured him aggressively yanking a bomb-detecting dog in a busy airport.
The short cellphone video, recorded by a bystander at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, shows the unidentified TSA employee walking back and forth with the pooch.
The agent is seen jerking the leashed animal, which appears to be nervous and uneasy in the busy terminal.
Michael Burkey, a former police K-9 trainer, said the TSA agent on the video showed lack of training.
“We do turn-arounds that the dog has to adjust to the handler,” Burkey told TV station FOX2 Detroit. “But to just drag him [the dog] like that where he almost flips over is just inappropriate. It’s not good training at all.”
TSA released a statement Sunday and said the employee has been removed from his duties pending an investigation:
“Video showing a TSA explosive detection canine handler aggressively pulling a dog working in a Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) terminal was shared with local leadership this morning. The behavior displayed by this handler is unacceptable and not within the high standards we hold our officers to.”
TSA officials added the dog was taken to a veterinarian immediately for a a wellness exam.
Burkey said TSA was right in suspending the agent from his canine duties.
“The dog wasn’t ready to be put in that situation with that many distractions,” the veteran K-9 trainer said. “There should have been more training of the dog and more training of the handler. It’s just not good training, and it’s not respectful training towards the dog.”
