Caught On Tape: Police Officer Abuses Police Dog, You Won’t Believe What This Officer Does To His K-9 [VIDEO]

In what is a shocking and heartbreaking display of animal abuse, a northwest Indiana police officer is under fire as a video has surfaced of him abusing his police dog.

The video that was posted to YouTube on Wednesday shows the unnamed officer lifting the dog off the ground by the throat with both his hands and the leash. The officer can also be seen swatting the dog in the chest as he manhandles the animal. While lifted off his hind legs by the leash, the dog can be seen doing one full rotation as he swings helpless in the air.

“At this time, the Department has observed behavior by the K-9 handler that appears to be inconsistent with acceptable training guidelines,” a spokesman for the police department said.

Hammond, Indiana Mayor Tom McDermott condemned the actions of the officer in a statement, saying “Anybody who loves dogs as much as I do is always saddened and shocked anytime you hear of a dog’s abuse. When you find out it happened with an employee of yours, it makes it that much more shocking and disturbing. Please know that the Hammond PD does not condone that type of behavior of any of it’s officers, nor is it tolerated in this administration.”

NBC Chicago reports that members of the Humane Society that have viewed the video fear for the health of the K-9.

“It’s certainly not any training I would condone or urge anyone to follow,” said Kristina Montgomer of the Calumet Area Humane Society.

“Lifting a dog like that off the ground can do damage to the training itself, but also to the dog’s physical health.”

The officer was placed on leave as the incident is being investigated by the police department.

What do you think should happen to the officer abusing the dog in the video?