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(Image Source: YNN)
BY MICHELLE SCHUELKE
A lawsuit has been filed against a New York coroner and a fire chief who allegedly took
parts of a human body to use for a dog training exercise.
“Richard Dunn of Lockport died after losing control of his pickup truck along Wasik's
curve. Dunn’s truck hit a sedan head on and then flipped over several times.” (Video:
WIVB)
Dunn was killed April 2012, and a portion of his body was donated to the fire department.
Only, his parents had no idea.
The county coroner at the time of the incident allegedly removed a piece of the body tissue
to give to the fire chief to use in dog training — specifically sniffing out cadavers. (Via
WCCB)
According to Slate, cadaver dogs are “...exposed either to human remains (bits of bone, blood,
or nail clippings) or to ‘pseudoscents’ that simulate the death odor. Dogs can only
indicate the presence of a smell...they can sometimes tell where a body was even after
it’s been removed.” They are used to look for missing persons believed to be dead.
Both men have already resigned their posts and pleaded guilty to charges of obstructing
governmental administration.
“Judge Amel Jowdy sentenced both men to 100 hours of community service with the SPCA
of Niagara County, a $1,000 fine and asked that both men issue letters of apology.” (Video:
YNN)
According to The Buffalo News, the Dunn’s lawsuit against the county “...seeks an
unspecified amount of damages as well as compensation for emotional and psychological distress.”
Whole body parts were not removed for the training exercise, only a small piece of tissue.