Police Officer Kills K-9 Partner

[DFrost]

Originally Posted by selzer

my point is that many departments without a lot of experience are doing their own training and there seems to be as many ways to train these dogs as there are departments. The comment about peeing on a tree had my jaw hanging when I heard it but whatever.

In our county, if our guys are being compensated for training times, then our adminsitration is boldly lying in the papers and such to help support k9 units. They are trying to run the k9 units totally on donations. People actually donate food for the k9s -- so, what, if someone donates a big bag of Old Roy, you feed it to them???

Telling us that the officers are not being paid for the training of the dogs, may be their way of encouraging the community to volunteer to the program.

Ohio is one of few states that has a POST test. Many departments in Ohio are also Accredited. Ohio is also a state that has a lot of members in USPCA. They should know better. My point is; if they are training poorly, if they are violating Federal Law, perhaps it's best to not have a program. While K9 is an important tool and a force multiplier, it's also a magnet for law suits. Poor training, and not having the proper equipment or supervision is a good reason to not have a K9 section at all. I don't feed Old Roy, although I know a lot of dogs that seem to do well on it. I have a budget for dog food and we buy Nutro. Works very well for a large number of years. Gotta admit, the "peeing on a tree" is a new one on me. It did give me a good laugh.

[arycrest]

Originally Posted by DFrost

...
My point is; if they are training poorly, if they are violating Federal Law, perhaps it's best to not have a program.
...

Just curious since this surprises me. I never realized that there were any federal laws regulating police canines. What exactly do they regulate?

[DFrost]

There aren't any laws regulating police canine, per se. There are laws regulating the amount of hours a person can work, and what must be compensated. I'm sure the Federal Government has policy and standards pertaining to their canine, but nothing that controls a state, city or county canine program. What I was referring to was Fair Labor Standards. One that specifically pertains to police canine requires officers be compensated for canine training and for the care of the dog if the dog is kept at the handler's residence. The law applies to almost anyone that works for a company or business. For example; if you work for a company and it's mandatory to attend an hour long meeting each day before work, they have to pay you for that hour. If the company you work for requires a company specific training program once a week for an hour, they have to pay you for that hour. Police are no different. If they require me to attend training to keep my job, they have to pay me for it. It's the law whether it's right or wrong isn't my concern. As a program manager, I have to be aware of the law and at a minimum ensure my supervisors are aware of the requirements. There is such a thing as vicarious liability, but I'm not a lawyer so I won't go into that.

DFrost

[Stogey]

Someone should kick this jerk in the ribs and see how he likes it !!!

[RebelGSD]

I heard a peeing story, a somewhat different one, from a police officer who is in the K9 unit and is responsible for training the police K9s. He claimed that there was a GSD that nobody in the department could handle or even take him out of the kennel. So this person (won't mention his name) walked up to the dog's kennel and peed through the kennel grid. He says that was it, the dog never challenged him after that. I always wondered whether this was a war story or the truth. I always wandered how a female officer could pee at the dog through the gate of the kennel.
It is funny though, but the peeing stories seem to circulate.

[CaliBoy]

Originally Posted by Stogey

Someone should kick this jerk in the ribs and see how he likes it !!!

ROFLOL. That's we like Texans. You folks don't mess around with administering justice!!

[arycrest]

Originally Posted by DFrost

There aren't any laws regulating police canine, per se. There are laws regulating the amount of hours a person can work, and what must be compensated. ...

DFrost

Thanks for taking the time to explain what you were talking about.

[Jessiewessie99]

Originally Posted by CaliBoy

ROFLOL. That's we like Texans. You folks don't mess around with administering justice!!

My dad is from Texas and always speaks his mind on stories like this.

[DFrost]

Originally Posted by RebelGSD

I heard a peeing story, a somewhat different one, from a police officer who is in the K9 unit and is responsible for training the police K9s. He claimed that there was a GSD that nobody in the department could handle or even take him out of the kennel. So this person (won't mention his name) walked up to the dog's kennel and peed through the kennel grid. He says that was it, the dog never challenged him after that. I always wondered whether this was a war story or the truth. I always wandered how a female officer could pee at the dog through the gate of the kennel.
It is funny though, but the peeing stories seem to circulate.

There are many stories about training, training techniques etc that are more myth that truth. One never knows where stories like that start. It's like the one about drug dogs being addicted so they will look harder for drugs. I'd bet a dollar to a donut I'm asked that question at least once during every demo we've ever conducted. I think sometimes, trainers, such as myself, perpetuate myths like this because, at the time, it's funny.

DFrost

[RebelGSD]

Well, it is comforting to hear that outpeeing male K9s or peeing through kennel doors or on trees is not the part of formal K9 officer qualification :-)

Now Malinois are supposed to be GSDs on crack - so a drugged Malinois would be some sight! I have not heard the one about drugged detector dogs though.