APD training to minimize officer/dog interactions...
This week, the Amarillo Police Department started in-service classes to provide officers with training with a goal of reducing the chance of a confrontation with an aggressive dog. Officers are often faced with calls and contacts involving aggressive dogs in the course of duty, and may have to resort to lethal means to protect themselves. The APD Canine Unit recently attended training that provided information about how to interact with dogs in the situations in which officers do. Officers in the APD canine unit will be providing training to APD officers. The canine unit officers have a strong understanding of dog behavior from their training. They will provide information to help officers understand how a dog’s instincts and environment can influence behavior. They will provide training in how to minimize chances of contact with aggressive dogs and use alternative control such as pepper spray if a situation allows. The training goal is to minimize the need for officers to employ firearms in defense from dogs.
Chief Robert Taylor said, “We investigate every incident in which an officer discharges a firearm on duty, including to defend themselves from a dog. I have seen no problems in the way our officers have handled aggressive or vicious dogs in the past, but since this training is available, we are going to take advantage of it. It’s important that officers handle animals in the safest manner they can. I have dogs, and I think dog owners want to know that we do everything we can to avoid using a firearm in these situations.”
Address/Location
Amarillo Police Department
200 SE 3rd Ave
Amarillo, TX 79101
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 806-378-4257
Sgt. Brent Barbee
Crime Prevention Unit
[email protected]
806-378-4257