Calgary Police Dog Cleared After Girl's Bite Injury

Alberta's police watchdog has cleared Calgary officers of misconduct following an incident in which a police service dog bit a nine-year-old girl during a February 2025 pursuit.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) concluded the officers acted appropriately when they released the dog while tracking a suspect in a stolen vehicle investigation in the southeast community of Erin Woods. The suspect fled on foot through residential backyards and into a nearby field, where the girl and a friend were playing.

The report indicates the officers had no way of knowing children were in the area when they deployed the dog. The girl sustained injuries from the bite but was treated and recovered. ASIRT's investigation focused on whether officers followed protocol for deploying service animals and whether they took adequate precautions before releasing the dog into a pursuit.

The clearance is significant because service dog deployments during foot chases often spark scrutiny about proportionality and civilian safety. Calgary police have faced previous incidents involving canines, making each investigation closely watched by community groups and civil liberties advocates.

ASIRT's finding suggests the department's training and deployment procedures met provincial standards for this type of operation. The decision closes a chapter on an incident that raised questions about how officers balance suspect apprehension against the risk to bystanders in populated areas.