KIRO Radio report sparks change in Vancouver Police Department
Oct 5, 2015, 7:01 AM | Updated: 4:46 pm
The Humane Society says hundreds of animals are killed by police every year and in most cases it happens needlessly, and it's all because of a lack of police training. (AP)
(AP)
A recent report by KIRO Radio has led at least one police department to increase training for its officers.
Lieutenant Scott Creager of the Vancouver Police Department says the inquiry into what training officers receive to properly handle animals has led the department to make sure it is “being as mindful to this as we should be.”
The Vancouver Police Department was one of 10 contacted, plus the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The results were included in the story on police training and one incident over the summer, where a pit bull was killed by police in Federal Way, during a Valley SWAT team home search.
Tacoma, Everett, and Yakima Police Departments were the only three that include any training on general encounters with dogs. Seattle’s does not, nor does the Washington State Patrol.
But when police fatally shoot a dog, it can be emotional and costly. The city of Des Moines had to pay at least $51,000 in fees after police killed a Newfoundland in 2010. In June, police in Ohio aimed for a dog and ended up hitting a 4-year-old girl. She was seriously injured when the bullet hit her leg.
The Humane Society says hundreds of animals are killed by police every year and in most cases it happens needlessly, and it’s all because of a lack of police training. There’s free material available, like a one-hour video sponsored by the Department of Justice which show ways police can try to avoid a conflict with a dog in the first place.
Following the story, Lt. Creager will now have all Vancouver officers use material that he’s pulling together, both from the DOJ-sponsored video and from other material available through the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He says the video and the other materials taught him a few things.
“These law enforcement contacts with dogs are predictable,” he said. “People have pets and law enforcement comes to homes where people have pets and you can expect those contacts to happen. We need to be aware and have a plan and some solutions in place in how to deal with these animals.”
