KPD dog killed after attacking woman cost $4,500

KNOXVILLE - A Knoxville police dog killed Thursday after escaping from its kennel and biting a woman in Campbell County came with a price tag of $4,500.
Elko, the slain dog, was a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois that was certified by the International Police Working Dog Association, according to Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
Elko was teamed with Officer Jonathan Chadwell, who has been with KPD since November 2003, DeBusk said.
Elko somehow escaped Thursday afternoon from its kennel at Chadwell's home in Campbell County and bit a neighbor. The woman was treated and released from a hospital, DeBusk said.
A Campbell County animal control officer fatally shot the dog.
DeBusk said the KPD is conducting an internal affairs investigation into the incident.
The KPD obtained Elko in March 2007 when the animal was 18 months old. At the same time, Chadwell became a K-9 officer and was teamed with Elko.
Law enforcement officers teamed with K-9s sometimes take the dogs home, where approved kennels are constructed for the animals. That allows K-9 officers to provide constant care for the highly trained canines.
The Police Department has a policy that restricts officers from taking city-issued vehicles home if they live more than 25 miles from police headquarters, DeBusk said. Some specialized units, including Chadwell, are exempted from the policy because of the nature of their assignments, he said.
Chadwell lives 28 miles from police headquarters.
DeBusk said the loss of Elko leaves KPD with 12 K-9 officer teams. He said officials hope to replace Elko.