you beat up women and resist arrest, this is the consequences. Police did the right thing, this "drunk" could have harmed an Officer and/or the K-9.

as for the second fellow, he's a piece of trash, you run from the police, you disobey their commands to get on the ground. he's much taller than your average fellon, let the dog loose, he should be paying for the K-9' s dental care.

OH NO!!!!!!! Here we go again. The City as Cash Cow. Go to court; prove that the City is in the right and that we will not just payoff anyone who has the couple bucks to file a frivolous lawsuit. Enough is enough!

We've got to get the law changed in the USA to one that, like many other countries, has the loser of a civil suit pay the other party's legal fees. That would stop this filing weak suits, like these, that would have little chance of prevailing at a trial but still "winning" by getting a settlement because the defendant calculates that settling is cheaper than defending.

Interesting that the suits were filed by the same Wildwood law firm. WE know where to go if ever bitten by a K-9 while resisting arrest.

By the way, Deuce's training as an Ocean City K-9 was obviously deficient. He should have been trained so that he would only bite shoobies.

hahahha.... wyatt..... let's continue the shoobie trash talking no matter what the topic is..... if you don't like it here, you should move......

Seriously Ocean City. If you continue to settle, word will get out and people will look for a way to sue you to get a settlement. You have to suck it up and fight many of these frivolous law suits and pay the price now so you aren't paying down the road.

Colleen is right!! OC continues to open itself to these types of suits if they plantiff knows the City will settle.

It's a shame that its now less costly to pay out than it is to fight for justice. Losers like these criminals get rewarded and the integrity of our wonderful police force takes a hit. Stop the insanity.

These 2 incidents (Petnick and Moyers) reveal very serious allegations of police misconduct.

Neither of these cases should be silenced by using tax dollars for a settlement.
Both cases must proceed to the District Federal Court for justice to prevail.
Everyone including the police must be held accountable for their actions.
If not there will be other such incidents.

If the charges are substantiated in either or both cases those involved must be removed so that the police motto "serve and protect" has credibility.

If the officers are found innocent of the alleged abuse of their authority it will remove the dark cloud of suspicion hovering over the department.
Steven Fenichel, MD

I agree with Dr. Fenichel. And until these complaints are adjudicated (you notice I didn't say settled) and the truth is determined, should this dog and handler be on the streets? I asked that question at a 4th ward meeting where there were two council members present and the city solicitor but they apparently don't have the answer. I'm hoping the K9 unit was removed from active duty pending an investigation but I suspect that's wishful thinking on my part. We can't run the risk of settling a case like this and having something similar happen again.

All these law suits speak to a lack of good, strong management in this town. All these lawsuits speak to a lack of accountability that has lingered in this town due to the "insiders" believing they can do whatever they want - because in many instances and unfortunately they can. There is no moral leadership. We have not had a mayor in memory who would stand up for what is right. All the Mayors do is protect the insiders right or wrong. They do not set an example of moral authority and good citizenship. I am sure Mayor Gillian is a good person, but he has lacked the moral leadership necessary to change the tide in Ocean City. Does he stand up for what is right or does he stand up for the inner circle regardless of right and wrong.? We know the answer to that question. As long as there is no moral leadership in this town, there will be an abundance of lawsuits. I hope this case does go to court so that the truth comes out. I also hope I never meet up with those police, their dog and the other officer involved in the Raab case because these guys scare the heck out me. All we need in this town is a corrupt sheriff to make the small southern town identity complete. This is not America's Favorite Family Resort, this is small town ugly as soon as you scratch the surface.

dd
Ocean City has a hard time learning from its mistakes of the past.. Years ago the Police Department had a dog that was involved in similar issues with the public. It wasn't retired from service until it bit then Police Chief Dominic Longo in the butt. .... Good-bye to that dog's career!

Both of these bottom feeders have been through the courts and have been found guilty of the majority of the charges against them. The problem is the liberal minds of the Civil courts (remember OJ?). There are legal firms that target these criminals based on the information presented in court--much like the ambulance chasing attornies that advertise on TV. Its my understanding that one of these fellows had an encounter with the Somers Point PD K9 and remarkably followed their commands to the letter--lesson learned?

In the first example I say "Good boy Duce!" He obviously knows where to bite to stop a man and hopefully in this case he bit in a way that deems Mr. Moyer unable to repro-DUCE! We don't need anymore alcoholic, petty theft, drug taking, woman beaters living in the lower digit streets of OC than we already have.

I do not believe that police dogs are trained to attack the groin area. The facts of the case have yet to be determined, but that much should be easy to determine by the medical records. It doesn't speak well for the dog. If a police officer were to do something similar would it not be considered excessive force?

My response it for all who live here full time, own a second home, visit for the day and those who work here. We are very fortunate in this City to have the total public service response that includes, Fire, Police, Beach Patrol and Public Works. Our property values are directly related to the work of these agencies. It is no coincidence that New Jersey built us a $500 million dollar entrance way to this great city, as this is the "Jewel" of New Jersey. With crime escalating in cities and states all around us, we are safer than ever. When my out of town owner / neighbors arrive here, they let their children be free to enjoy the beach, boards and other activities like they were as "safe as Disney World". In reality this City is that safe due to our public servants! Oh, remember we also have one of the best tax rates in the entire state. Bottom line is we will be subjected to incidents like these in an effort to protect our families from the people who have chosen not to obey the law. You only need to look 7 nautical miles to the north (Atlantic City) to observe what can happen without a strong public service response and weak leadership.

If my description fits you then please read through to my suggestions 1) You believe in legalized marihuana 2) You are against IPE on the boardwalk 3) You are all for Affordable Housing (in my neighborhood not yours as I recall) 4) Now you are an expert in police dog handling 5) You believe it is great that we have a growing illegal alien population here in Ocean City 6) I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you supported BYOB and the Lifesaving OUTHOUSE. Now that you've identified yourself know this: If you legalize weed the main concern is driving while high. IPE on the boards makes sense to 90 % of your neighbors who get off their fat asses and use the boards. Affordable housing is code for liberal giveaway, criminal element, you owe me type but you would rather question public servant salaries? You want somebody else on the wall protecting you cause you dont have the fortitude to do it yourself. Statistics are showing that within these illegal aliens coming to our cities in alarming numbers are, undocumented felons, rapist, murderers and the likes, take action now! On this lifegaurd station, should have been torn down and recycled to make pamphlets for the 12 liberals in town who are now fleecing us for over 2 million to repair it. My final suggestion is for you to move to the North Inlet of Atlantic City where everything you seem to hold dearly occurs!

It is amazing how 2 vicious dog attacks that may (or may not) have been intentionally triggered by members of the Ocean City Police force has brought out such an outpouring of Christian love and compassion in America's Greatest Family Resort.
No worries that the bite victims allege that they were neutralized. The bite victims are Guilty until proven Innocent.
Steven Fenichel, MD

Mr. Fenichel: Don't even waste your time conversing with some of these hate filled people in this town. To be an independent thinker - or even a thinker - in this town is looked down upon by some of these Neanderthals. Yes you are being attacked because you want to have this case go to court so that the facts are presented out in the open. A vicious dog attack takes place - the question is whether it was excessive force used for good reason or not - justified or not - and somehow an Ocean City citizen like you is attacked anonymously because he wants the case to go to court so the facts are exposed. Not only that - Doseofreality is attacking poor people, immagrants, medical marihuana, byob and the life saving station. Is there anything else Mr Doseofreality? How about working mothers and contraception? This is about whether police officers and their attack dog overstepped and used excessive force - and attacking one of Ocean City's citizens about everything he has ever done ofr thought is about as insane as apparently you are.

Too much ambiguity (he said she said) as to who is telling the truth. Clearly, though there would not be a case if OC Police did not have an attack dog. The police carry a baton, mace, and one of those electric shock weapons, to immobilize out of control suspects without the use of lethal force. Highly paid police officers should know when and how to implement the array of tools at their disposal. It appears, however, the only tool the police handle effectively is their creative writing skills.

NJ Use of Force Continuum Definitions:

1. Constructive Authority: Constructive authority does not involve actual physical contact with the subject, but involves the use of the law enforcement officer's authority to exert control over a subject. Examples include verbal commands, gestures, warnings, and unholstering a weapon. Pointing a firearm at a subject is an element of constructive authority to be used only in appropriate situations.

2. Physical Contact : Physical contact involves routine or procedural contact with a subject necessary to effectively accomplish a legitimate law enforcement objective. Examples include guiding a subject into a police vehicle, holding the subject's arm while transporting, handcuffing a subject and maneuvering or securing a subject for a frisk.

3. Physical Force: Physical force involves contact with a subject beyond that which is generally utilized to effect an arrest or other law enforcement objective. Physical force is employed when necessary to overcome a subject's physical resistance to the exertion of the law enforcement officer's authority, or to protect persons or property. Examples include wrestling a resisting subject to the ground, using wrist locks or arm locks, striking with the hands or feet, or other similar methods of hand-to-hand confrontation.

4. Mechanical Force: Mechanical force involves the use of some device or substance, other than a firearm, to overcome a subject's resistance to the exertion of the law enforcement officer's authority. Examples include the use of a baton or other object, canine physical contact with a subject, or chemical or natural agent spraying.

5. Deadly Force: Deadly force is force which a law enforcement officer uses with the purpose of causing, or which the officer knows to create a substantial risk of causing, death or serious bodily harm. Purposely firing a firearm in the direction of another person or at a vehicle, building or structure in which another person is believed to be constitutes deadly force. A threat to cause death or serious bodily harm, by the production of a weapon or otherwise, so long as the officer's purpose is limited to creating an apprehension that deadly force will be used if necessary, does not constitute deadly force.

In New Jersey the use of a canine is the same as using a baton or pepper spray, and the police do not have "one of those electric shock weapons"...

So we’re OK with the police using physical force to subdue Mrs. Raab and (allegedly) causing her bodily injury over a trailer parked in front of her house, and with taking Mrs. Raab into custody without charging her. We’re OK with using a police dog (again allegedly) to attack someone in the groin area (excuse me “subdue”). I sure am glad I live in a town were law and order is maintained and the citizens are protected?

I ask again if a police officer attacked someone in the groin would it not be considered excessive use of force? Maybe we should castrate rapists too but we are bound by the law. If the allegations are true in the first case there was an illegal arrest and in the second excessive force was used. If we’re going to defend anything it should be equa protection under the law. That is what protects all of us.

The K-9 Officer and his handler were doing what they are trained to do. When subduing the man who used his body aggressively (the above story says "combatively") toward both dog and officer, the dog "attacked" the closest area, in this case the man's groin. Had the man responded to the original police commands and not been perceived as threatening, the K-9 Officer would not have released the dog.
Rather than villify the officer and the K-9 for doing their jobs correctly and effectively, I praise them and appreciate their presence and activities within my community.
Nancy Waddell

Well thanks. Now that I know my genitals are fair game I think maybe I better move to a community that doesn't have police dogs.. Not that I would resist arrrest but I have been subject to a false (and Illegal) arrest before. Thank heavens it wasn't a K-9 unit since I was alone and it was my word against that of the police officer.

See ya Eric, sure gonna miss your insightful comments here on the Patch of OC. Have fun wherever you go and I hope you remain a beacon of change on whatever public comment board you find in your new digs! P.S. make sure you rip on whatever public employees your new town has including public works, teachers, cops, etc. Let me know what town you find that has a lower tax rate with better services...

Oh and by the way, isn't that whole "I've been falsely/illegally arrested what they all say on those police dramas on t.v.? It's never their fault it's always the over zealous police officer with a chip on his/her shoulder

This is a nation of laws. We ask a great deal of our town's police force to protect us and protect those in the custody of the police. The officers are trained and expected to use only the force required despite their personal feelings. Emotions run high but police are expected to uphold the law, and the rights of all parties concerned. The victim has obvious rights but so to does the accused. To allow a well-trained dog to subdue a suspect by grabbing the accused by the groin area seems to deviate from how the animal was trained. The necessity to use a dog also seems suspect. I am not taking sides, but I believe the men and women who step up to the job of a police officer must use only the force necessary; left unsupervised we could find police officers acting as they did in LA with Rodney King. A prime example of a police force of cowboys left unchecked.

Really??? Perhaps we should ask all citizens to wear clothing with specially colored areas that they deem is acceptable for law enforcement to engage them in a time of resisting arrest. In fact lets put sensors in the clothing so we can see if the officers finger nails stayed within the lines. Better yet how about you ride along with the police so that you can tell them when its appropriate to use force against these "good guys". Apparently, even criminals are just misunderstood and should be coddled. If they obeyed the officers commands then NO physical force would've been necessary. Personally, I think police officers are crazy for doing their job...barely anyone appreciates their work, there is no respect for them by the criminals, they are monday morning QB'ed weeks or months after a split second decision and they are outgunned. I'm comforted to know that my family is protected by a quality police force. Even better they are there to protect even the biggest of naysayers (look in the mirror) against these misunderstood criminals

I can only echo what Mike stated above. We are a nation of laws. Those laws exist to protect all of us. Law enforcement is not immune from the law. I appreciate police officers that uphold the law. Those who break the law should be reprimanded and or removed from the police force.