NCJ Number
15250
Date Published
1974
Length
149 pages
Annotation
TRAINING PRINCIPLES AND EPISODES ILLUSTRATING THE USE OF THE DOGS FOR TRACK AND SEARCH, ATTACK AND CAPTURE, BOMB AND NARCOTICS DETECTION, AND STREET CRIME DETERRENCE.
Abstract
MAN'S BEST FRIEND AND OLDEST WORKING COMPANION HAS A REMARKABLE RECORD IN HELPING TO FRUSTRATE CRIMINALS AND SOLVE CRIMES OF ALMOST EVERY CATEGORY. THIS BOOK RECOUNTS EPISODES FROM EVERY PHASE OF THE WORK DONE BY POLICE DOGS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE U.S. AND EUROPE. SERIOUS USE OF DOGS IN POLICE WORK IN THIS COUNTRY DATES FROM THE 1950'S WHEN THEIR HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL USE IN LONDON INSPIRED SEVERAL NORTH AMERICAN CITIES TO FOLLOW SUIT. THE POLICE DOG'S UTILIZATION IN MOST CITIES FALLS INTO FIVE CATEGORIES: ATTACK AND CAPTURE, TRACK AND SEARCH, DRUG DETECTION, BOMB DETECTION, AND AS A DETERRENT TO STREET CRIME. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES OF A DOG IS THE WILLINGNESS TO ATTACK ON COMMAND IN SPITE OF ANY DANGER OR DISTRACTION, INCLUDING GUNFIRE. THE BOOK EMPHASIZES THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL AFFECTION, TRUST, AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT EXISTS BETWEEN A DOG AND HIS PARTNER, THE K-9 CORPS POLICE OFFICER. SINCE A DOG'S SENSE OF SMELL IS MUCH MORE HIGHLY DEVELOPED THAN MAN'S, HIS NOSE IS HIS MOST IMPORTANT WEAPON. POLICE DOGS HAVE DEMONSTRATED ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE TALENT IN TRACKING DOWN FUGITIVES, ARTICLES, OR LOST CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF DISTRACTIONS, DARKNESS, OR CONFLICTING VISUAL SIGNS. DOGS HAVE SHOWN A TREMENDOUS ABILITY TO SMELL OUT NARCOTICS UNDER ALMOST INCREDIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES. SINCE THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE BEGAN USING THEM IN 1970 TO HALT NARCOTICS SMUGGLING, DOGS HAVE BECOME THEIR LOWEST-COST AND MOST RELIABLE SEARCH AND DETECTION TOOL. (SNI ABSTRACT)