The U.S. Marshals Service is publicly backing one of its deputies after a video appearing to show a marshal kicking a small dog during a federal operation in Memphis spread widely online.
Reports say the deputy was part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, a federal law-enforcement initiative launched last summer under the Trump administration.
Video spreads online
The clip—recorded by a resident at an apartment complex and later shared on social media—shows multiple federal agents working alongside a K-9 unit. As a small dog runs toward the group while barking, one deputy steps forward and kicks the dog away.
In the footage, the dog appears much smaller than the law-enforcement K-9 and does not seem to physically block the agents’ work.
The video went viral Friday, sparking heavy criticism across social platforms.
Marshals Service response
In a statement issued Friday, the U.S. Marshals Service acknowledged the video and defended the deputy’s actions.
“A woman at the apartment complex recorded the incident on her cell phone and posted the video to social media,” the agency said. “While the appearance of the incident is unfortunate, the deputy marshal’s action was not done with malice.”
The agency said the kick was “a last-resort, split-second action taken by a law enforcement officer to control the environment and mitigate a dangerous situation,” adding that “an uncontrolled, aggressive animal can hinder official duties and threaten safety.”
Public backlash continues
The explanation has not eased online outrage. Many users questioned how a small dog could pose a meaningful threat to armed federal agents operating with a trained K-9.
The agency did not say whether the incident is under internal review or whether discipline is being considered. Officials also did not release any information on the dog’s condition after the encounter.
