Volume 10 Program 5 What Dogs Try to Tell Cops TASER of the Month: TASER Stops Dog Backup: 5-year-old Handcuffed Backup: S.W.A.T. Monkey DUTY SHEET AND LESSON PLAN Total Program Length 36:00 IN THE LINE OF DUTY is produced exclusively as an interactive sharing resource for the law enforcement community. No commercial use or access to the public at large is permitted without the authorization of L.O.D., Inc. This program contains actual video of real police incidents with no reenactments or simulations. This program is protected by copyright. Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited without authorization from L.O.D., Inc. This program is designed for informational purposes only. IN THE LINE OF DUTY makes no representation regarding the effectiveness or appropriateness of any action or technique depicted herein. It is not intended to replace or supersede existing training policies or guidelines of individual law enforcement agencies. The video training programs included in this video are designed to fit the four major POST categories for continuing education. LEGAL STUDIES: Concentrates on federal, state and local criminal law or issues. INTERPERSONAL PERSPECTIVES: Focuses on communication skills, cultural diversity training, ethics, conflict management, victim sensitivity and stress management. TECHNICAL STUDIES: Focuses on specialized studies or activities which directly relate to job description, including first aid and CPR training. SKILL DEVELOPMENT: Focuses on activities that develop physical skill proficiency such as defensive tactics, firearms, driver training, first aid and CPR.
OVERVIEW This program uses a videotaped Tennessee incident in which a presumed felony traffic stop ends with an officer shooting the occupants family pet. Dog body language and use of lethal force are discussed. THE INCIDENT (3:41) Officers in Cookeville, Tennessee are dispatched to locate an eastbound station wagon believed to have been involved in a robbery. Cash has been seen flying from the vehicle as it entered the interstate. Believing they ve stopped robbery suspects, the officers remove and restrain the three occupants, two adults and a teenager. When a pit-bull mix dog jumps from the right rear door, officers brace themselves and prepare to stop the animal. The tense situation becomes lethal within five seconds. As the dog, Patton, runs around the car then approaches an officer, tail wagging, the officer shoots and kills the dog. Response to the widely publicized video is fast and loud. Ledy Van Kavage is governmental affairs and public policy director for the ASPCA Midwest. She says police officers are in the public eye, and pets are treated as family members. When these clash, there will be headlines. In some states, like Illinois, animal owners can get punitive damages (attorney fees, court costs, and compensation for emotional distress) when a pet is killed. The Cookeville officer had only 5 seconds once Patton jumped from the open car door. While the three subjects are on their knees in handcuffs, they tell officers about the dog and ask that they close the door. The dog jumping out and running around puts the officers on the defensive. After viewing the video, Van Kavage says the dog appears to be demonstrating non-threatening behavior. She says that if officers are trained to recognize dogs body language, these confrontations can be diffused and spare needless tragedy. This shooting is ultimately ruled justified, because officers are making presumed felony stop. Lt. Ray Takmajian, animal abuse investigator with the Granite City (IL) Police Department, points out that officers meet dogs all the time, whether on the street, in yards, or in dark buildings protecting a drug stash. He says the approach is determined by the circumstances. Benign contact is the key with unfamiliar dogs. Showing the dog the back of your hand, allowing the dog to smell you, offer a good chance to evaluate the dog s potential for aggression. With an unthreatening approach, there is usually no problem, though dogs can attack suddenly, leaving you little time to react. The first priority, Lt. Takmajian says, is the officer s personal safety and that of others in the area. Alton, Illinois Animal Control Officer Michael Parsons points out that while it s not 2
popular to say so, if there is serious doubt as to the dog s intent, shoot the dog. There are times when an officer has no choice, though he says this is clearly the last resort in the force continuum. Otherwise, be prepared for the public opinion fallout. THE APPROACH (1:12) Failure to anticipate the presence of dogs on the premises in the biggest mistake an officer can make. 30% of US households have dogs. Randall Lockwood of the Humane Society of the United States makes these points: Be alert to signs that dogs are present; look for food bowls, water bowls, toys, worn path in the grass, a leash or chain attached to tree or other anchor. This ensures there are no surprises for either party. Know the property and the pets in advance. Animal behavior experts agree that simple Do s and Don ts to reduce chances of an ugly confrontation: Assume there s at least one dog on the premises, and let it know you re there Always insist the owner confine the animal Don t approach a dog that seems afraid - you may unwittingly provoke an attack Don t back a dog into a corner, or make it feel trapped - this can provoke attack Never exit your car if there s an unfriendly dog in the area A dog s behavior does not always predict a threat. Barking does not always mean a dog is aggressive: If the dog is contained, barking tells you he s protecting his owner and wants you to know it Most officers who end up shooting a dog report that the dog was barking or growling, though again they are warning you that you re going to have to take control Barking reflects the dog s territorial and protective instincts Dogs react to movement, so keep actions slow and non-threatening Touching the owner, even appearing to do so, can provoke hostility from the dog Most dogs assume postures that may indicate their attitude: BASELINE posture - the dog s head is held high, ears are up but not forward, the tail is down and his mouth is relaxed ALERT posture - the head is held high, his ears are forward, his tail is out behind him, his mouth is closed and he s standing straight on his toes DEFENSIVE THREAT posture - he lowers his body, his hackles are up, the pupils are dilated, ears are back, the corners of the mouth are pulled back (may bare teeth), the tail is tucked between legs, and the nose is wrinkled OFFENSIVE THREAT posture - hackles are up, ears are forward, corners of the mouth are forward, nose is wrinkled, his tail is up and stiff, and he s standing tall on his toes SUBMISSIVE posture - his tail is down, his body lowered, forehead smooth, he licks at the mouth of the superior dog, he grovels, and the corners of his mouth are back 3
The hackles up near the tail, ears down, snarling and growling are good predictors of the dog s likely aggression. There are some Do s and Don ts of facing a possibly hostile dog: Keep movement to a minimum Stand sideways - a person is a smaller threat in profile Don t extend your hand to a dog unless you have to, then keep your hand in a fist Keep arms, hands near body Use a bite stick - it can be put in a dog s mouth to distract him Don t stare - this is perceived as a challenge Don t smile or show teeth Back slowly away, eyes toward dog - don t turn and run Don t be afraid to retreat and take cover Use your baton as a bite stick, or feed it some other object Call for backup - know your animal control resources Use pepper spray if needed - it can usually at least slow the dog down TOOLS (2:45) Having the right tools, or knowing how to use ordinary objects, can prevent an attack: Pepper spray, pepper balls (though note that these often have no affect on fighttrained pit bulls, and can make them more aggressive) Noose / snare - have one available Baton - bear in mind the act of snapping open the baton can startle and distract the dog CO2 Fire extinguishers - spray tastes and smells bad, is cold, and creates a disorienting cloud around the dog The force continuum is the same when dealing with animals. Officers begin with the least physically harmful means of control then increase force as warranted: Calming behavior - talk quietly and move slowly Commands - familiar words firmly delivered may work Isolation - without backing the dog into a corner, wrangle it away from other people Chemical (like pepper spray), electronic (like TASER), sonic (sudden, loud noise), physical repellants (noose, baton) When an attack is imminent or in progress, and these means fail, lethal force is the last but only option. PIT BULLS AND LARGE DOGS (3:19) Any dog can bite. No breed is guaranteed to be more or less aggressive than other breeds, despite myths to the contrary. For example: Pit Bulls - are naturally people-friendly - will not challenge strangers unless they have not been properly socialized - are fiercely loyal, tenacious and intelligent - ideal characteristics for training to fight or as a guard dog 4
- are often great family pets - must be trained to attack - it does not come naturally - are often trained to protect people or property - often wag their tails before, just before, and after they attack - certain postures in a pit bull (tail high, short movements) may signal dominance, not friendliness Rottweilers - are generally not very sociable - don t like to take orders from strangers, or sometimes from their owners - are to be taken seriously when they growl Dobermans - often do not growl or show aggression before attack PROTECTING YOURSELF (2:38) Dogs on their best behavior and well-trained are loving, loyal and protective. But their instincts can not be ignored. Personal safety of officers and others is the first priority. While it s true that dogs often attack without warning, as fighting dogs are trained to do, it is essential to recognize animal behaviors and respond accordingly. Sometimes just the presence of one or more dogs can intimidate an officer so much that he or she may overreact. Simple rules to remember and prevent a bad outcome: Be a tree. Stand still or roll like a rock Fight back if you have to Retreat if you have to Turn to your side, stand in profile Protect your face and throat Brace yourself against something solid if possible You are more vulnerable on the ground, but protect yourself by curling into a fetal position Cover throat and ears with fists Do not expose fingers Be prepared: Know what you re walking in to and be prepared to respond accordingly Know the history of that address and the animals that live there Use lethal force only as a last resort REVIEW (3:11) Use caution Learn and read dog s body language Avoid eye contact Stand still Talk to the dog Use firm verbal commands Allow the dog to retreat 5
Be prepared Train with local animal control personnel Resist lethal force QUESTIONS (1:24) 1. What is your feeling about the Tennessee dog shooting? Do you feel the officer was justified in shooting the animal? If so, why? If not, why not? 2. Is it time for you to personally reevaluate your approach to confrontations with animals? If so, discuss it. 3. Do you feel you might have reacted the same way as the Tennessee officer? 4. Have you ever been attacked by a dog? 5. How well do you think you can read dogs? 6. Would you call an animal control officer if you were called to a scene with barking dogs? 7. Have you ever received training in dealing with aggressive dogs? If not, do you feel training in this area would be worthwhile? 8. Do you worry more about confrontations with some breeds than with others? If so, why? 9. How have you dealt with aggressive dogs in the past? 10. Do you fear dogs? If so, would that affect your approach to dealing with an aggressive animal? Background: The driver had left his wallet on the car s roof as he left a gas station along I-40. Cash flying from the wallet prompted observers 911 calls. Officers were dispatched despite the fact that no robbery had been reported in that area. The liability risk to agencies is growing. Animal owners have successfully sued public service agencies across the country. The occupants, a family from North Carolina, eventually sued the Cookeville Police Department for emotional distress, loss of property and other procedural lapses, and settled out of court for $77,000. Because pets are so highly regarded in the US, the ASPCA s Ledy Van Kavage believes, the award would have been much higher had the case gone to a jury. Following this incident, the Tennessee legislature passed the Patton Law, requiring the state highway patrol academy to provide animal and canine behavior training. The law recommends but does not require other law enforcement agencies to do so. TASER OF THE MONTH - TASER Stops Dog Attack (4:10) A Cocoa Beach, Florida officer uses his TASER when another officer is suddenly attacked by a dog. The officers have arrived at a house where several dogs are restrained on leads in the front yard. Officer Ken Shedrick walks past the house slowly, and is returning to his patrol car when a Rottweiler escapes his tether and jumps at Officer Shedrick. Officer Shedrick kicks at the dog, but it continues to charge. He then pulls his gun but pauses long enough for his backup officer to draw his TASER. The backup officer tases the dog, throwing the dog back to the curb and momentarily 6
stunning him. Quickly recovering, the dog run off yelping, disappearing behind the house with the TASER s barbs still in his coat. In this instance, local law dictates that the officer has the right to use lethal force. Shedrick says the dog grabbed his foot, constituting an imminent threat. Ledy Van Kavage of the ASPCA commends the officers for their actions and the outcome. Though hitting a wide part of a dog from up to 26 feet away is a challenge, but it s worth it. There are too many possible bad outcomes when guns are used. Liability is increasingly a factor in officers responses in confrontations with animals. Owners can - and often do, with great success - sue for loss of personal property and emotional distress. The Cookeville, Tennessee shooting of Patton, a pit bull mix with bad timing in a felony traffic stop, reaped that dog s owners $77,000 from the city in an out-of-court settlement. BACKUP: What Would You Do? 5-year-old Handcuffed (5:38) A St. Petersburg, Florida kindergarten teacher is videotaping her classroom activities for self-evaluation. When a young student is told to clean up a mess she has made, she launches into an angry outburst. Eventually staff has to remove other students from the classroom. The teacher and assistant principal try to calmly reason with the girl, with no success. They then move the girl to the assistant principal s office but the child continues to act out, tearing papers off the wall and refusing requests to sit in a chair. The child becomes violent, taking swings at the assistant principal, who merely blocks the punches. The only other time the AP touches the girl is when the child twice climbs atop a table. The AP then lifts her off and sets her on her feet on the floor. After several minutes, someone in the hallway tells the AP that police officers have arrived. Three uniformed St. Petersburg police officers enter and cross to the girl, now seated quietly. What Would You Do? 1. If you knew the circumstances, would you try to calmly talk to the girl and ask her what the problem is? Why is she acting out? 2. Would you ask all the other adults, including the assistant principal and the teacher, to leave the room? 3. Would you surround her and issue commands similar to those you d issue to an outof-control adult? 4. Which officer among the three should take the lead in any communication with the girl? Why? 5. Would you have quickly determined which officer had the most experience dealing with children s issues? 6. If there d been a woman officer present (as there is here)would she have been the logical officer to try and deal with this situation? 7
7. Seeing that the girl had not been physically harmed, and was compliant when the officers came in, could officers have simply indicated this is not a police matter? 8. If you d dealt with this girl before, what could or should those experiences have taught you? 9. Or, was handcuffing the girl (which took place) a valid, reasonable response to a possibly violent situation? 10. What, realistically, should you have done AFTER the girl had been handcuffed? Wait for family? Turn her over to a counselor / professional? To the School Resource Officer? The officer asks do you remember me? as they approach the now-seated child. They stand her up, turn her around and apply the handcuffs while she screams and struggles. The video has made headlines, bringing a lot of negative attention to the St. Pete PD. LOD Technical Advisor Rich Simpher says the angry reaction is just a big deal over nothing. Had the officers responded to the school and done nothing, allowing the girl to continue her behavior, they would likely have had to stop her in some more physical way later, which would have prompted claims of abuse. Then the officers would be criticized for failing to restrain the child when they first arrived. Sgt. Simpher says he has no problem with these officers actions. They gather information, secure the girl and secure the area. The child was not hurt, and she realizes that she must control herself. The larger issue, according to Sgt. Simpher, is the message this incident sends to police departments and schools. Department administration must work with community and school leaders to find out how they want the police to handle future incidents. Here, the teacher and assistant principal can t control the child so they call the police. Besides handcuffing the student, the officers have basically four options: 1. If parents don t respond when the school contacts them, officers can take the student home, if no crime has been committed 2. Officers can take the child to a local hospital to rule out a medical cause for the behavior. If none, the child is returned to police or parents 3. The child may be taken to a juvenile facility, until a parent arrives 4. Officers may call Division of Family Services, to see if circumstances dictate an investigation Sgt. Simpher says in this situation, the officers are familiar with the girl, they are called to the school and are asked to intervene. They followed department policy and controlled the girl. The child is not hurt, and is eventually turned over to her parent. BACKUP: S.W.A.T. Monkey (1:24) Tactical Officer Shawn Truelove has a dream that someday a tiny Capuchin monkey will make his job safer. The Mesa, Arizona police officer has seen the little animals used in 8
assistance programs for the disabled. The monkeys are smart and easy to train, able to open and close doors and help with food and small tasks. These guys are also known for their historic partnership with organ grinders. Officer Truelove thinks that with a $100,000 federal grant, the Mesa PD can train their own Capuchin team member, rigging him out with Kevlar, a camera and a two-way radio. The 3-to-8-pound monkeys can get into places unsafe for or inaccessible to officers. Organizations listed below have expressed a willingness to help law enforcement agencies learn about dogs and dog behavior. Contact the organization for the regional office nearest you: National Animal Control Association Mailing address: P.O. Box 480851, Kansas City, MO, 64148 Hours: Phone: 913-768-1319 Fax: 913-768-1378 Email: naca@interserv.com American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) 424 E. 92nd St New York, NY 10128-6804 Email: information@aspca.org The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, NW Washington DC 20037 202-452-1100 Website: hsus.org 9
Volume 10, Program 5 LESSON PLAN Synopsis:. Time: Objectives: Obj. A: Obj. B: Obj. C: Obj. D: Obj. E: Based on a videotaped shooting of a dog by a Tennessee officer, this program emphasizes recognition of dogs aggression predictors, means of avoiding and reacting to a dog attack, and the use of force continuum One hour. Upon completion of this course, officers should be able to: Identify and respond to indicators that a dog is present in a location List indications that a dog may attack Identify tools and methods of avoiding or warding off a dog attack Identify breed-specific characteristics of dogs commonly trained to fight and/or guard Know resources available for backup and / or continued training INSTRUCTOR S NOTES / LAB GUIDE Obj. A: Obj. B: Obj. C: Obj. D: Identify and respond to indicators that a dog is present in a location 1. Failing to anticipate a dog on the premises is a frequent mistake officers make 2. Food bowls, water dishes, tie lines, worn paths mean a dog is usually there 3. Notify owner that you re there and tell them to contain their dog 4. Make noise, shake fence, call to dog to avoid surprises for you or the dog List indications that a dog may attack 1. A dog s posture often signifies the dog s intent 2. Behavior does not always predict a threat 3. Barking does not always mean a dog is aggressive 4. Officers movements may reduce likelihood of an attack 5. Dogs often react when they think their territory or owner are threatened Identify tools and methods of avoiding or warding off a dog attack 1. Officers body position, tone of voice, and other tricks can avoid their being perceived as a threat by the dog 2. Baton, night stick, pepper spray - tools readily at hand - can be used to counter a dog attack 3. When all other means fail to stop the threat, lethal force is justified Identify breed-specific characteristics of dogs commonly trained to fight and/or guard 1. Any dog can bite under certain conditions 2. Dogs behavior depends on how they are trained and socialized 3. Despite common thinking, no breed is guaranteed to be a threat 4. Pit Bulls are valued as fighters, protectors and family pets 5. Rottweilers are known to be antisocial, stubborn and protective 6. Dobermans often do not growl or show aggression before attacking 10
Obj. E: Know resources available for backup and / or continued training 1. Humane Society (HSUS) 2. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) 3. National Animal Control Association (NACA) 4. Local animal control authority or veterinary personnel 5. Officers with special training in animal handling 11