Cop in trouble after K9 partner bites kid

A Metro police officer is in trouble this week for something we rarely hear about: His K9 partner bit a random student on the campus of Madison High School on Thursday. It happened when Officer John Wiggins, who works part-time in security at Madison, left campus, got Vigo, the dog, and brought him back to the school — something he hadn't done before. It was after classes had let out for the day, so Wiggins took Vigo out for a walk on the grounds, and that's when the dog took off toward a group of students.

The Metro police department said Vigo had never acted that way before — he's trained to go after suspects, not random teens — but he's not the only one to blame: Wiggins let Vigo off his leash, something he's only supposed to do when the dog is being trained, is chasing a suspect or is at home. "The officer understands that, doing that, he used bad judgment and subsequently the dog bit a young lady," Metro police Lt. Herman McClure told KTRK. "We hate that it happened. We're glad it wasn't terribly bad, but a bite is a bite."

Vigo is a Belgian Malinois, a smaller version of a German Shepherd often used in police work. He was examined and found to be healthy; the student suffered what the department called a "minor wound." Metro police said Wiggins will be disciplined.