NCJ Number
62814
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 36-38
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A TRAINED POLICE DOG IS AN EFFECTIVE WEAPON. THE USE OF POLICE DOGS, THEIR COSTS, AND INNOVATIONS SUCH AS CANINE RESOURCE POOLING, ARE EXPLAINED.
Abstract
MORE THAN 350 POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY USE POLICE DOGS IN MANY SITUATIONS, INCLUDING PURSUING PEEPING TOMS, PROWLERS, AND CHILD MOLESTERS, AND INVESTIGATING BURGLARIES, CAR STRIPS, AND VANDALISM. POLICE EXECUTIVE REPORTS THAT, IN A CROWD AND SEARCH SITUATION, A TRAINED OFFICER/DOG TEAM CAN BE AS EFFECTIVE AS UP TO 10 OFFICERS WORKING WITHOUT DOGS. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVANTAGES OF USING A TRAINED DOG INCLUDE A QUIETING EFFECT ON THE PUBLIC, AND THE ABILITY TO CREATE CITIZEN CONFIDENCE. DOG TEAMS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR INVESTIGATING CRIMES SUCH AS EMBEZZLEMENT, CREDIT CARD FRAUD, PROSTITUTION, OR SHOPLIFTING. THESE CONSIDERATIONS UNDERSCORE THE NEED TO ASSESS THE NATURE, FREQUENCY, AND LOCATION OF INCIDENTS WHICH ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DOG TEAM CONTROL. FURTHERMORE, DEPARTMENTS MUST EVALUATE THE COST IN LIGHT OF CITIZEN RESISTANCE TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THROUGH TAXES. TO MINIMIZE COST, DEPARTMENTS COULD EXPERIMENT WITH A CANINE RESOURCE POOL AS OUTLINED HERE. FIVE CITIES NEAR LOS ANGELES, CALIF., HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN POOLING RESOURCES FOR AN ANTI-BURGLARY CAMPAIGN. THE PLAN AIMED AT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF BURGLARIES, DECREASING INJURIES TO POLICE OFFICERS, AND PROMOTING COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE USE OF DOGS IN SUCH A PROGRAM. THE USES OF POLICE DOGS IN SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE DESCRIBED BRIEFLY. (FRC)