K-9 units are used against black people more

Academic studies, investigative journalism, and government data show that police K-9 units are used disproportionately against Black people.

Multiple investigations across different jurisdictions indicate that Black individuals are significantly more likely to be targeted, bitten, and injured by police dogs compared to white individuals. Source

Key Data and Statistical FindingsNational Emergency Room Data: A study published in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine analyzed a national database of emergency room visits and found that 42% of patients treated for K-9 dog bites were Black, vastly higher than the Black proportion of the U.S. population.

City-Specific Disparities: Investigative trackers and civil rights reports show extreme disparities across individual cities: In Sacramento, California, police directed 43% of canine force against Black residents, who make up only 14% of the city’s population. Source

In San Diego, California, local department data revealed that Black individuals were nine times more likely to be bitten by K-9s than white individuals.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, an investigation by The Marshall Project found that 55% of those bitten by police dogs were Black, compared to a city population that was 28% Black Low-Level Offenses: Source

Media investigations, such as the Invisible Institute's Mauled series, found that a majority of K-9 bite victims were unarmed and suspected of low-level, non-violent crimes (such as traffic violations or property damage) rather than violent felonies. Source

International Patterns: The disparity is not unique to the U.S. In England and Wales, Home Office data analyzed by the campaign group StopWatch showed that police deployed dogs against Black people 2.7 times more often than white people, and Black individuals were bitten 3.5 times more frequently. Source