Canine Encounters Law Enforcement Training comes to Delaware
A lot of emphasis has been placed on law enforcement agencies lately to be more upfront about their practices. This has stemmed from not only what’s been going on in Baltimore, but other parts of the country as well.
It appears officers are now under intense scrutiny for deadly confrontations with dogs.
Police say one in three households nationwide have a dog. Some of those dogs can be extremely hostile.
Prior to Wednesday, May 6th Ocean View officers were not properly trained to handle them.
Kenneth McLaughlin, the Ocean View Chief of Police says, “There’s been a an uptick if you will in the last few years in law suits against police departments due to the excessive force against dogs.”
McLaughlin tells 47 ABC they haven’t had any cases of officers shooting dogs in Ocean View. However, they’re not waiting for this to happen.
The training is a preventative measure considering what the chief calls a “concerning trend.” A simple google search shows news agencies across the country reporting cases of law enforcement officers shooting and killing dogs.
Jim Osorio, the senior law enforcement officer with the Canine Encounters Law Enforcement Training Program says, “The basic academies don’t teach these officers how to deal with these dogs. This course is going to teach them all the less lethal options on how to deal with these dogs.”
The chief explains to 47 ABC this is the first Canine Encounters Law Enforcement Training Program in Delaware. It teaches deputies and officers how to spot specific behavior and the body language of dogs using real life examples. In one scenario, officers learned when to call for back-up when they’re approaching a canine.
Osorio continues, “He needs his back up. His back up can watch the suspect. If the suspect doesn’t turn away and run, he could grab his gun from his waist band.”
Officers learned they should never turn and run. Running triggers predatory aggression. A lesson was also taught on how to properly approach a pet on a scene. Members of law enforcement are encouraged to use a firm voice and basic commands.
47 ABC’s Jobina Fortson participated in a lesson on possessive aggression. We’re told dogs that struggle with possessive aggression are often the reason why children are bitten. In the lesson, Jobina held a dog treat in her hand. If the canine weren’t properly trained, she would have probably bitten Jobina’s hand. In real life, the treat symbolizes everything from a toy, to even the dog’s owner. Taking dog’s things triggers aggression. The most important lesson learned from the class was that using a weapon is always the last resort.
The Ocean View Police Department hosted this one day training course on May 6th, but they opened it up to other local agencies that wanted to participate. Members of the Rehoboth Beach P.D., Fenwick Island P.D. and the Caroline County Sheriff’s office took part in the training.
It’s important to note that the training exercises in this story were for law enforcement officers.
