South L.A. woman wants end to K-9 units after vicious attack

A South Los Angeles woman has filed a lawsuit and is demanding the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department disband its K-9 unit after she was attacked by one of their dogs.

Rosa Ramirez, 45, suffered permanent injuries to her left hand — her dominant hand — during the attack, her attorneys said in a news conference on Friday.

At about 9 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2023, deputies were searching for a wanted person near Ramirez’s home, and she opened her door to speak with a deputy who wanted entry to the residence.

During that conversation, a dog, which she estimated to be 50 to 65 pounds, attacked her, crushing her left hand, she said.

“The department has tolerated these dogs inflicting disfiguring, disabling, life-changing injuries. They have ripped off parts of people’s faces, parts of people’s noses, torn [them] apart,” said attorney Colleen Flynn. “The injuries that Ms. Ramirez suffered are typical of the types of injuries inflicted by police dogs.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it “has not officially received this lawsuit but utilizes handler control canines under strict guidelines in certain high-risk situations.”

“The Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau conducted an internal investigation, and the findings were presented to the Executive Force Review Committee, which includes the Office of Inspector General,” the statement said. “The Department is dedicated to ensuring that handler control canines are used in adherence to our policy and rigorous training standards.”

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