In a shocking revelation, the Prince George’s County Police Department has charged Corporal David Acosta with three counts of animal cruelty. The charges stem from alleged mistreatment of his canine partner, a two-year-old bloodhound named Daisy. This incident marks a troubling breach in the department’s long-standing history of animal care within its Canine Section.
Corporal Acosta, who joined the force in 2006 and is currently assigned to the Special Operations Division, was initially suspended on July 14, 2024, for an unrelated incident. Following his suspension, two handlers were tasked with retrieving Daisy and a second dog, a Belgian Malinois named Spartacus, from Acosta’s care. During this process, the handlers discovered injuries on Daisy that appeared to be caused by an e-collar.
The distressed bloodhound was promptly taken to a veterinarian, where she received treatment for her injuries as well as other medical conditions. In response to these findings, the department’s Internal Affairs Division launched an investigation, which quickly led to the animal cruelty charges against Corporal Acosta. The investigation remains active, and the department urges anyone with information to contact the Internal Affairs Division at 301-516-5721.
In the wake of this incident, Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz expressed his dismay, stating, “This situation involving Daisy is appalling. She is a part of the PGPD family. I expect that all of our handlers treat their canine partners with the utmost care and concern.” Aziz also highlighted the significant role bloodhounds play in community service, particularly in searching for missing persons.
To prevent future incidents, the Special Operations Division Commanders have implemented new policies aimed at enhancing the welfare of all police dogs. These include weekly visual inspections, bi-monthly in-depth checks during training sessions, and bi-annual kennel inspections. All findings from these inspections are required to be meticulously documented.
Daisy and Spartacus have since been reassigned to experienced handlers within the Canine Section. According to Chief Aziz, Daisy has recovered and returned to her duties.
As the community reacts to this unsettling event, the police department has committed to a thorough review of their practices to ensure this remains an isolated incident.
