Man shoots police dog after it wanders away

The neighbor said he didn't recognize the dog.
FINDLAY, Ohio (AP) -- A police dog that wandered away from its handler's home was shot and killed by a neighbor who said he felt threatened when the dog came on his property.
Flip, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, was shot Saturday afternoon, police said. Authorities were investigating whether the shooter overreacted.
Hancock County Sheriff Mike Heldman said the man said the dog was not acting aggressively when he shot him. "He said the reason he shot him was because he was concerned for the safety of his son," Heldman said.
The man, who was not identified, told authorities he did not recognize the dog when he saw it in the backyard. He called the police after the shooting.
Flip, who lived with Findlay police officer Bryon Deeter, had been let outside when he got out of a fenced area and ended up at a neighbor's house a quarter mile away.
About the dog
Police Chief Bill Spraw said Flip was the city's only canine and had been with the department since 2003. He once found 40 pounds of cocaine concealed in a car stopped on Interstate 75.
Another time, Flip tracked down a man who broke into a gas station.
Flip also made regular visits to schools that would hold fundraisers to buy equipment for the dog.
"Flip was a special dog and the kids loved him," Spraw said. "He was extremely gentle, except when his handler would give him commands. He knew when it was time to work."
The department will have a memorial service for Flip, the chief said.
"He was like one of our own," Spraw said. "He used to hang out with the guys all the time."