NCJ Number
86711
Date Published
1982
Length
141 pages
Annotation
Police canines have been used extensively over the past 10 years with much success. For the concept of police canines in law enforcement to develop effectively, police agencies should begin to document all relative data concerning their programs.
Abstract
The police canine serves as a psychological deterrent to criminal behavior. Dogs can search large areas and buildings in a relatively short period, and they afford additional protection for the police officers. Moreover, the police canine can accurately detect narcotics and the presence of explosives. Primary disadvantages of using police dogs are mandatory training commitments, quality of the canine, insufficient funding, consequences of dog bites, problems keeping patrol vehicles, clean and unexpected death or retirement of the dog. Chapter notes, illustrations, and about 60 references are supplied. A donor release agreement form and a police agency's canine selection process are appended.