Police Dogs
In certain states police dogs are seen as a very valuable tool. Police dogs are also protected under statutes just like police officers are. In the state of California if any person maliciously and with no legal justification beats, kicks, cuts, stabs, shoots with a firearm, poison, or other harmful acts will risk the chance of being imprisoned for 16 months. If any police dog or horse is killed or crippled then it raises the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony in that state. These statues are the same for other states such as Iowa, Indiana, and New Jersey.
For years attorneys have been arguing that police dogs are deadly force. In which deadly force is considering something that can cause great bodily harm or risk of causing death. In turn the police officers actually think that service dogs can actually help prevent the death of themselves, the officer. The courts stated that with the proper training that police dogs would not constitute as deadly force (Smith).
In my opinion, I think that regardless if you are a police dog, police horse, or police officer you should be treated with respect and person should be held responsible if anyone is injured in the line of duty. These animals save the lives of officers—so the officers should return the favor. I have heard people say that these police dogs are just that—dogs. While in fact these dogs have training just like officers. These dogs are trained as tracking dogs, explosive detection dogs, drug detection dogs, arson dogs, decomp dogs, and forensic evidence dogs to name a few. These dogs are all trained to stiff out whichever situation they are put into. Some dogs are trained to sniff out decomposing bodies, while other dogs are trained to sniff out drugs. All of these dogs are trained in the area of expertise and they are used a great deal to help the officers.
Dogs are even now been incorporated into SWAT operations. Please view the short video clip of A Phoenix police K-9 and SWAT team as they capture a man who claimed he had a pipe bomb. Police K-9 and SWAT Team Takedown
A SWAT K-9 team is a unit consisting of a handler and a dog, which is trained and can assist in tactical incidents.
Illinois has yet to pass any statues protecting these police animals. What are your thoughts? Do you think that these statues have a point or are just ridiculous? Hopefully every state that uses K-9’s as a public service tool will also have statues protecting these precious animals. The NK9WD (National K9 Working Dog) is also working to provide these animals with the retirement they deserve. Their mission also includes helping working service dogs with health benefits. These dogs are not ordinary, and their lives should be rewarded for the hazardous situations they encounter (Chandler, 2012). How do you feel about service dogs? Do you think they are a useful tool, would you want to be working aside one of these dogs, and do you think that once a K-9 service dog retires that he should be treated as a police officer?
Citations:
Chandler, C. (2012, February 24). Why police dogs are partners, not property (take action). Retrieved from http://www.globalanimal.org/2012/02/24/police-dogs-not-just-equipment-take-action/67526/
Smith, B. Police service dogs are not deadly force.
I enjoyed reading your post. I agree that K-9 units are just like police officers and deserve to be treated the same. Every state should pass policies that protect these hard working animals.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed this post. But I don't think they are the same as police officers, obviously, one life is still more valuable than the other. At the same time we do have laws against animal cruelty, but these k-9's are unique dogs. They perform outside the line of duty and I think they deserve to be protected the same as a regular police officer. To me I dont see any other way. These dogs are an investment and require yearly training with the handler, given the expense, I would think they would do everything they could to protect them under the same extent as a regular police officer.
ReplyDeleteI agree, police dogs should be provided the same protection as police officers, however I agree with the other statutes in that the penalty for hurting the dogs should be less than hurting a human police officer. The police dogs seem to serve a very important service to both the community and police departments, therefore they deserve to be respected and protected under the law.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great blog. Yes, I believe we need to have these dogs protected under statutes. They make an officers job much more efficient and easy. They find bombs, drugs, or even take downs perpetrators (video), just by their sense of smell or quick attacks. These dogs are working side by side with officers each and everyday; therefore they need to be protected for all the services they provide for us.
ReplyDeleteI believe that dogs require the same amount of protection as an officer. These dogs are highly trained and act as just as much of a symbol for the law as any other officer. As a firm supporter of dogs being man's best friend it is only natural to think that the symbiotic relationship between dogs should extend as far as statutes to protect dogs as if they were officers in Illinois. Dogs have heightened senses that may not be infallible but are surely above our own. It is important to use resources and treat them right.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that an animal has the same right as a human. While dogs are a useful "tool" in the hands of an officer. An animal does at least serve some basic right like not to have cruelty done to it, and be given a good home but not the status of an officer of the law. Yes they can be trained, but so can a squirrel be trained to water ski. That does not make the squirrel a world class water skier. The status of an animal does not change once it becomes a tool used in a Law Enforcement agency. They do require some protections because they are being used in dangerous situations, and I do believe that there should be a higher charge if they are harmed or killed in the line of duty. But i do not believe that an animal can be sworn in to uphold the laws of and that were created by man. An animal has no sense of justice and right or wrong which are in fact human concepts.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Serena
DeleteI think that these police dogs should be treated just like police officers are! I think they are a big part in police work and finding stuff out. If someone shoots at a dog or an animal that is involved with police work then they should get jail time.
ReplyDeleteI think this was a valuable post. I think police dogs are an extremely useful tool. A felon that is running from the police poses a major threat to police officers, society, and himself. Although the felon can receive some nasty bites from the dog the take down itself can save the life of both the officer and the running felon. Also, dogs have a keen sense to smell drugs which becomes abundantly useful when searching for dangerous narcotics.
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