Handler

School District K9 Handler Pleads Not Guilty After Dog Dies in Hot Car; Sparks Debate on Animal Cruelty Laws

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Las Vegas, NV — A K9 handler with the Clark County School District is facing misdemeanor charges in a case where his police dog died after being left in a vehicle for over six hours. The handler, identified as James Harris, pleaded not guilty to amended charges of torturing, injuring, abandoning, and starving an animal, court records reveal. The tragic incident occurred on Nov. 14, when K9 Marley succumbed after being left in a vehicle kennel by Harris, who was on assignment at Foothill High School. Documents filed in court indicate that Harris parked the … Read more

Former Los Angeles Police K-9 Handler Awarded $11.5 Million in Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination and Retaliation

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Los Angeles, California – A former Los Angeles police K-9 handler has been awarded $11.5 million in a recent jury verdict. Mark Sauvao, a 30-year veteran of the LAPD, claimed that he faced retaliation and discrimination due to his Samoan ancestry. Sauvao alleged that he was unfairly punished after reporting his colleagues for name-calling and endured false rumors being spread about him. During the trial, Sauvao stated that officers within the department referred to him using derogatory terms such as “cannibal” and “barefoot coconut tree-climber”. Additionally, one supervisor allegedly referred to him as Tongan, which … Read more