NCJ Number
215632
Date Published
2006
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This chapter discusses the benefits and tactics of deploying trained dogs in various police operations.
Abstract
The chapter opens with a review of the Michigan State University Canine Search Study, which compared the effectiveness of police search teams with and without dogs. Search teams with dogs significantly outperformed those teams without dogs. This is followed by an overview of the history of the use of trained dogs in war operations. The characteristics of dogs that make them valuable in police work are discussed in another section of the chapter. The three basic drives of a dog--play drive, defense drive, and prey drive--are described; and the relevance of each drive for specific types of police work are discussed. The three senses of a dog--smell, eyesight, and hearing--that make them valuable in police work are also discussed. A review of case law related to the use of dogs in police work focuses on whether or not police dogs constitute police use of deadly force. The ruling case law is that the use of a properly trained police dog to apprehend a felony suspect does not carry a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily harms when the dog is used in an appropriate manner. Various types of police dog deployment discussed are vehicle pursuits, felony vehicle stops, building and area approach and entry, outside searches, locating a suspect out of sight (no bite), locating and biting a suspect, crawl space and attic searches, canine officer down, tactical release, and traffic stops. Also discussed are the deployment of dogs in felony compared with misdemeanor crimes and the planning of a canine deployment. Post-operation procedures addressed pertain to witnesses, evidence, and report-writing.