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The White Home on Monday noticed the eleventh confirmed incident of President Joe Biden’s 2-year-old German Shepherd, Commander, attacking a US Secret Service agent.
“Yesterday round 8pm, a Secret Service Uniformed Division police officer got here in touch with a First Household pet and was bitten. The officer was handled by medical personnel on complicated,” US Secret Service (USSS) chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi mentioned in a press release Tuesday.
Nonetheless, Guglielmi additionally revealed that the injured officer spoke with Secret Service Uniformed Division Chief Alfonso M Dyson Sr on Tuesday and “is doing OK”.
In response to CNN and USSS electronic mail correspondence, Commander has been concerned in at the very least 11 biting incidents on the White Home and in Delaware together with a November 2022 incident the place an officer was hospitalised after the canine clamped down on their arms and thighs.
Lately, in July, White Home officers mentioned that the Bidens had been working by way of new coaching and leashing protocols for the household pet following the incidents.
When requested if the brand new coaching had begun or if any additional motion can be sought, Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for the First Woman, said that “the First Household continues to work on methods to assist Commander deal with the customarily unpredictable nature of the White Home grounds.”
“The President and First Woman are extremely grateful to the Secret Service and Govt Residence employees for all they do to maintain them, their household, and the nation protected,” she continued.
Main, one other canine owned by Biden, was chargeable for a number of biting incidents on the White Home. After some time, the German Shepherd left the White Home, and in 2021, Commander moved in.
The conservative group Judicial Watch obtained a July electronic mail correspondence detailing 10 incidents involving the canine, together with one the place the primary girl, Dr Jill Biden, “couldn’t regain management” of the canine because it charged a Secret Service employees member.
“I imagine it’s solely a matter of time earlier than an agent/officer is attacked or bit,” the employees member warned in an electronic mail.
Whereas Secret Service brokers are usually not chargeable for the dealing with of the primary household’s pets, they’ll come into frequent contact with the animals.
“This isn’t a Secret Service factor. It is a office security difficulty,” former USSS agent Jonathan Wackrow mentioned. “There’s uniqueness right here the place it’s the residence of the president of the US, nevertheless it’s additionally the office for a whole bunch, hundreds of individuals.”
“And you’ll’t deliver a hazard into the office. And that’s what is basically taking place with this canine. One time you’ll be able to say it’s an accident, however now a number of incidents, it’s a critical difficulty,” he added.
Wackrow referred to as it a “vital hazard” for brokers on responsibility on the White Home residence.
“I’m certain that the Bidens love the canine. I’m certain that it’s a member of the household like each canine is, however you’re creating a big hazard to those that assist you – assist the workplace of the president,” he mentioned.
