An Oregon police department changed the name of one of its dogs after concerns were raised that a K-9 sharing a name with rapper Lil Kim is insensitive.
“It’s a little tiny black dog, K9 dog, that the police call ‘Lil’ Kim.’ If you’re a person of color, or if you’re a fan of Lil’ Kim, you know her significance in Hip Hop. You also know that she’s a gangster rapper,” Riccardo Waites, the founder of the Central Oregon Black Leaders Assembly, said in a video after meeting with Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz. “Just to be honest, I don’t want to see Lil’ Kim out there biting people of color.”
Lil Kim is a black female rapper of “Magic Stick” and “Crush on You” fame. The dog was reportedly not named after the rapper.
The dog, a Belgian Malinois, will now only go by the name “Kim” to avoid any potential controversy.
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“Although the dog is not named after a musician, it’s important to recognize that some people may assume that or believe that,” Krantz told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “I think in the eyes of some community members there is a connection historically to the use of dogs, specifically on protestors and Black community members, and that, that could bring a fear of canines.”
Previous social media posts often referred to the dog as “Lil Kim,” including back in January on her birthday.
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Waites wrote on Facebook that he is “appreciative of the department for stepping up and listening to community.”
