Tyreez
12-08-2014, 01:19 PM
http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/crime-law/police-shoot-dozens-of-dogs-during-confrontations/njMYt/
defend as necessary to protect themselves and citizens from aggressive and dangerous animals, according to police reports and records.
Butler County Sheriff’s deputies discharged their weapons 23 times to shoot injured or sick animals in 2o14. Likewise wise, Hamilton police have discharged their weapons to put down animals, including dogs, but have not shot any canines that were aggressive or attacked an officer or citizen, according to data from the police agencies reviewed by the Journal-News.
Police fire at animals more frequently than they do people, and shootings have occurred during drug raids, welfare checks, investigations, traffic stops and foot chases through yards and alleys.
Police said using deadly force often is a split-second decision and provides the only guarantee to stop an aggressive animal from potentially causing harm.
“As part our use of force policy, officers are authorized to shoot vicious or aggressive dogs,” said Maj. Mark Hoffman of the Middletown Police Department.
Some animal advocates said they understand police officers have a difficult job and must protect themselves. But they encourage officers to participate in training in canine body language to better interpret their actions and intentions.
“I would love to see more training in place for police agencies,” said Brian Weltge, president and CEO of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton.
In a county of 370,000 people, 35,465 dog tags were sold last year, but officials estimate there could be as many as three times the number licensed canines living in Butler County.
“It is rare when we respond to calls that a dog is licensed,” said Kurt Merbs, assistant dog warden supervisor. He said there are at least twice as many dogs in the county than those legally licensed.
That means police encounter a lot of dogs in their daily duties, and statistically, a police officer will likely discharge their service weapon during their career to shoot an animal rather than a human. In some situations, officers may need to take action to prevent a dog from getting away or stop it from threatening or attacking citizens or law enforcement.
‘Who wants to shoot a dog?’
A Middletown police officer shot and injured a dog in August while serving a drug search warrant at a Manchester Avenue residence.
The Middletown Division of Police’s drug unit, detectives and patrol officers made entry to a house and were met by four dogs that appeared to be pit bulls, according to police.
“When officers were executing the search warrant, the entire pack of pit bulls came toward the officers. An officer shot one of the dogs in the snout. All the dogs were taken but will be returned to the owner,” Lt. Scott Reeve said at the time of the incident.
The dog was seized by Butler County’s deputy dog warden and was taken to a Middletown veterinarian for treatment. Officers kept the other three dogs at bay with a fire extinguisher.
The dog’s owner, Kim King, 42, who was arrested for permitting drug abuse (crack cocaine), told police that the dog, named Midnight, had become more aggressive and told the vet to euthanize the dog to keep people from being injured, Lt. Jim Cunningham told the Journal-News in August.
Hoffman said he can only remember two other times in 30 years that officers have shot aggressive dogs — both times the animals lived.
But taking precautions so that it doesn’t have to come to deadly force is preferred. Officers carry fire extinguishers when serving search warrants where they know dogs are present, said Hoffman and Hamilton Police Capt. Craig Bucheit.
“Who wants to shoot a dog?” Hoffman said. “The dog is just doing what dogs do by nature or what people train them to do, which is an abomination.”
Hoffman said families are impacted and many times the owners are already in trouble “and having to deal with a dead dog just makes it worse.”
Animal shootings also traumatic
Butler County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said deputies have learned from county’s humane officers since the department became part of the sheriff’s office in 2013.
“We have also required all of our certified officers to complete online training about approaching dogs and responses to canine calls,” Dwyer said.
Shooting a dog is not an officer’s first reaction and it can be traumatic, Dwyer said.
“If we know dogs are present, we take precautions,” he said. “You know dogs are acting on instinct, but people make conscious decisions when reacting to police.”
Dwyer said in his career, he as had a few close calls, but he had not been bitten. Many officers have, including Bucheit.
“I know officers who have taken a bite and where able to defend themselves another why rather than shooting,” Dwyer said.
Interaction with dogs is a “common occurrence ” for officers, Bucheit said.
“It is very much a part of what we do,” Bucheit said. Hamilton officers also train using snares to contain dogs.
Hamilton police does not keep a tally of firearm discharges when officers need to humanely put down a sick or injured animal, Bucheit said. But he added, those calls account for nearly all of the encounters.
Bucheit agreed shooting an animal is traumatic, even if it is suffering.
He remembered vividly shooting a black lab that had been hit by a car and was suffering with a broken back and legs.
“I remember it like it was yesterday. It was early in the morning … cold … dog on Pleasant Avenue and she was still breathing, ” Bucheit said. “It’s terrible, but you know you have to do it.”
Police officers undoubtedly come face-to-face with many canines because one-third of U.S. households own a dog, said the Humane Society’s Weltge.
Dogs do not think like people, and even well-mannered dogs can display some aggression when they feel they need to protect their property or family, Weltge said.
But officers could benefit from training in dog behaviors, because there are some recognizable signs of a dog’s intentions, he said.
“We’d be happy to assist with this,” Weltge said.
defend as necessary to protect themselves and citizens from aggressive and dangerous animals, according to police reports and records.
Butler County Sheriff’s deputies discharged their weapons 23 times to shoot injured or sick animals in 2o14. Likewise wise, Hamilton police have discharged their weapons to put down animals, including dogs, but have not shot any canines that were aggressive or attacked an officer or citizen, according to data from the police agencies reviewed by the Journal-News.
Police fire at animals more frequently than they do people, and shootings have occurred during drug raids, welfare checks, investigations, traffic stops and foot chases through yards and alleys.
Police said using deadly force often is a split-second decision and provides the only guarantee to stop an aggressive animal from potentially causing harm.
“As part our use of force policy, officers are authorized to shoot vicious or aggressive dogs,” said Maj. Mark Hoffman of the Middletown Police Department.
Some animal advocates said they understand police officers have a difficult job and must protect themselves. But they encourage officers to participate in training in canine body language to better interpret their actions and intentions.
“I would love to see more training in place for police agencies,” said Brian Weltge, president and CEO of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton.
In a county of 370,000 people, 35,465 dog tags were sold last year, but officials estimate there could be as many as three times the number licensed canines living in Butler County.
“It is rare when we respond to calls that a dog is licensed,” said Kurt Merbs, assistant dog warden supervisor. He said there are at least twice as many dogs in the county than those legally licensed.
That means police encounter a lot of dogs in their daily duties, and statistically, a police officer will likely discharge their service weapon during their career to shoot an animal rather than a human. In some situations, officers may need to take action to prevent a dog from getting away or stop it from threatening or attacking citizens or law enforcement.
‘Who wants to shoot a dog?’
A Middletown police officer shot and injured a dog in August while serving a drug search warrant at a Manchester Avenue residence.
The Middletown Division of Police’s drug unit, detectives and patrol officers made entry to a house and were met by four dogs that appeared to be pit bulls, according to police.
“When officers were executing the search warrant, the entire pack of pit bulls came toward the officers. An officer shot one of the dogs in the snout. All the dogs were taken but will be returned to the owner,” Lt. Scott Reeve said at the time of the incident.
The dog was seized by Butler County’s deputy dog warden and was taken to a Middletown veterinarian for treatment. Officers kept the other three dogs at bay with a fire extinguisher.
The dog’s owner, Kim King, 42, who was arrested for permitting drug abuse (crack cocaine), told police that the dog, named Midnight, had become more aggressive and told the vet to euthanize the dog to keep people from being injured, Lt. Jim Cunningham told the Journal-News in August.
Hoffman said he can only remember two other times in 30 years that officers have shot aggressive dogs — both times the animals lived.
But taking precautions so that it doesn’t have to come to deadly force is preferred. Officers carry fire extinguishers when serving search warrants where they know dogs are present, said Hoffman and Hamilton Police Capt. Craig Bucheit.
“Who wants to shoot a dog?” Hoffman said. “The dog is just doing what dogs do by nature or what people train them to do, which is an abomination.”
Hoffman said families are impacted and many times the owners are already in trouble “and having to deal with a dead dog just makes it worse.”
Animal shootings also traumatic
Butler County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said deputies have learned from county’s humane officers since the department became part of the sheriff’s office in 2013.
“We have also required all of our certified officers to complete online training about approaching dogs and responses to canine calls,” Dwyer said.
Shooting a dog is not an officer’s first reaction and it can be traumatic, Dwyer said.
“If we know dogs are present, we take precautions,” he said. “You know dogs are acting on instinct, but people make conscious decisions when reacting to police.”
Dwyer said in his career, he as had a few close calls, but he had not been bitten. Many officers have, including Bucheit.
“I know officers who have taken a bite and where able to defend themselves another why rather than shooting,” Dwyer said.
Interaction with dogs is a “common occurrence ” for officers, Bucheit said.
“It is very much a part of what we do,” Bucheit said. Hamilton officers also train using snares to contain dogs.
Hamilton police does not keep a tally of firearm discharges when officers need to humanely put down a sick or injured animal, Bucheit said. But he added, those calls account for nearly all of the encounters.
Bucheit agreed shooting an animal is traumatic, even if it is suffering.
He remembered vividly shooting a black lab that had been hit by a car and was suffering with a broken back and legs.
“I remember it like it was yesterday. It was early in the morning … cold … dog on Pleasant Avenue and she was still breathing, ” Bucheit said. “It’s terrible, but you know you have to do it.”
Police officers undoubtedly come face-to-face with many canines because one-third of U.S. households own a dog, said the Humane Society’s Weltge.
Dogs do not think like people, and even well-mannered dogs can display some aggression when they feel they need to protect their property or family, Weltge said.
But officers could benefit from training in dog behaviors, because there are some recognizable signs of a dog’s intentions, he said.
“We’d be happy to assist with this,” Weltge said.