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A Suffolk County Police Department K‑9 escaped its vehicle and bit a bystander during the funeral procession for NYPD Detective Didarul Islam in the Bronx, officials confirmed.
In a statement, the department said the incident occurred Thursday when the door of a police vehicle became ajar during the service, allowing the dog to slip out.
“The dog’s handler recalled the dog and gained custody,” according to the statement from Suffolk police.
Videos of taken of the attack show the German Shepherd breaking free from its handler and lunging at three passersby, before biting into and tugging at the back of a bystander’s casual jumpsuit for several seconds. It is not yet clear how severe the injuries were or whether the individual needed medical treatment.
The department has launched a review into the event, a spokeswoman said.
Police statement
Below is the complete official statement issued on Friday by Suffolk police:
“During yesterday’s funeral in the Bronx, the door to a police vehicle became ajar and the canine inside escaped, biting someone. The dog’s handler recalled the dog and gained custody. The department is reviewing the incident.”
The incident took place amid a large-scale funeral procession honoring Islam — one of four people killed in an attack inside a Manhattan high-rise late Monday afternoon. Thousands of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies gathered, and Islam was posthumously promoted to Detective First Grade during the ceremony.
Funeral events began at a mosque in the Bronx and concluded with a procession to Laurel Grove Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey.
Top photo: News 12 Long Island (video still).
