Portland police settle lawsuit after k9 attack incident

Portland Police settle lawsuit after K9 attack incident

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Police Bureau has reissued details of a 2021 incident in which an off-duty police dog attacked two people in Happy Valley, following the settlement of a lawsuit arising from the event.

The attack occurred on Friday, March 12, 2021, at around 5:00 p.m. when the off-duty K9 handler learned that his police dog had escaped from his fenced yard and attacked two individuals walking their dog. Paramedics responded to the scene along with the Happy Valley Police Department and Happy Valley Code Enforcement. The couple’s dog was reportedly unharmed.

The initial investigation was handled by Happy Valley Police and Code Enforcement. According to the Portland Police Bureau, the dog had broken through a section of fencing before encountering the couple and attacking both individuals. The handler promptly notified a Portland Police K9 unit supervisor, who coordinated with local authorities and launched an internal investigation.

The police dog involved in the incident will remain out of service, according to the bureau’s statement.

Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.