Michael Williams Orlando Sentinel
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — After an image of an Orange County Sheriff’s Office dog named “Trump” was featured in a Facebook meme, the agency said it may tell its deputies to avoid naming their four-legged partners after real people.
A picture showing an OCSO deputy’s patrol car — which, like most K-9 deputies’ vehicles, has a decal featuring the dog’s name and picture — was posted Wednesday by the Facebook page “Cop Humor,” which describes itself as a “pro-law enforcement conservative group.”
The meme had garnered more than 1,000 likes, 200 shares and nearly 100 comments by Thursday afternoon, and was shared by Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93, which represents Orange County deputies.
“Atta boy, Trump! Making a difference,” said text overlaid on the image.
An OCSO spokesperson confirmed the Sheriff’s Office does have a K-9 named Trump and said the agency was aware of the meme being shared on social media.
The Sheriff’s Office purchased K-9 Trump in March 2018, the spokesperson said. The dog was put into service in June.
In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office said the names of K-9s are left to the discretion of their human partners, and there’s currently no policy dictating how the dogs should be named.
“In the future, the Sheriff’s Office may consider directing Deputies to avoid naming their K9 partners after real people,” the statement said.
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©2019 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)