Video Shows North Bay Police Officer Punching K-9 Partner

VACAVILLE, CA — A Vacaville police officer was caught punching his K-9 partner on camera, footage released to ABC7 revealed. A witness said the dog was punched 10 times.

Vacaville resident Robert Palomino was on his way to work when he heard the dog crying in the back parking lot of Vacaville Fire Station 73, he told ABC7.

Police Captain Matt Lydon told an ABC7 reporter on air that the officer in question was conducting a routine narcotics search training. Apparently, the dog performed well so the officer handed his K-9 partner a toy; however, the K-9 was unwilling to give up the toy and became angry with the officer, Lydon said.

"Is punching a dog 10 times really necessary?" Reporter Stephanie Sierra asked Lydon.

"I'm not prepared to speak to anything that I did not observe myself," Lydon told her.

Read more from ABC7: 'The dog was yelping': Video shows Vacaville officer punching K-9 partner