The Value of a Police Dog
Est. Read Time: 3 Mins.
I recently read this amazing article written from a small rural town just west of Winnipeg. The article details the importance of PSD Ceto from the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNP), and how her mere presence at violent calls has allowed her handler, Cst. Leblanc, to severely limit confrontational situations with suspects, leading to voluntary arrests without struggle.
As written by Anne Davis from the Virden Empire-Advance article:
"In the current climate of uncertainty, all police services are conscious of the need to resolve situations quickly and with the best possible outcomes for all concerned. Any police officer can testify to the fact that a seemingly simple domestic dispute or traffic stop can escalate to violence if things are not handled properly. So when answering a call that is already violent in nature, officers are always looking for something to stabilize and defuse the situation." The best way to defuse a dangerous situation? Avoid the fight entirely. Here is where the police dog comes in.
Police dogs are considered a form of non-lethal force. Non-lethal does not mean non-violent. Getting bit by a police dog hurts. You will bleed, you will require stitches, and it’s going to be painful from start to finish; however, the likelihood of being killed by a police dog is extremely low compared to being shot, or even being tasered. Police dogs also have the ability to think and be recalled if they are sent to apprehend a suspect that surrenders at the last second. They are the only form of force that can do this.
More than anything, a police dog specializes in creating one of our most motivating human instincts.
Fear.
PSD Ceto - MFNP
Imagine a suspect has barricaded themselves in a room and refuses to leave. A typical call out will go something like this:
“Police K9, come out now with your hands up or I’ll send in my dog and you WILL get bit. This is your 1st warning. Police K9, come out now with your hands up or I’ll send in my dog and you WILL get bit. This is your 2nd warning. Police K9, come out now with your hands up or I’ll send in my dog and you WILL get bit. This is your 3rd and final warning.”
With each passing call, the anticipation mounts for the suspect. You can hear the dog barking. You can hear the strong warning being issued. A cold sweat builds and you have to make a fight or flight decision before it’s too late…
Now that’s fear. That’s real persuasion.
This fear is usually strong enough to convince a suspect to concede without a fight, a best case scenario for both the suspect and the police officer. An arrest is made, the suspect goes quietly, and nobody is hurt in the process.
For PSD Ceto, her importance in protecting her community cannot be understated.
Since her first arrest in May of 2019, as of this post she has accumulated a whopping total of 124 successful arrests. Out of 124, the number of peaceful arrests is ridiculously high.
97% of all people involved in arrests where Ceto was present decided to voluntarily comply and were arrested without issue. Only 4 people decided against compliance. That is pretty remarkable.
Having said this, our concern at K9 Storm is the 3% of people who didn’t give up willingly.
It’s our job to allow your dog to Storm Through Anything™ and come home safely. Can you say with confidence that you have prepared your dog the best way possible to deal with the 3% too?
Ceto has K9 Storm everything: Patrol Swat Vest, ID Harness and Collar, and a multitude of leashes. Her handler has given her everything he can to help keep her protected in the event of a violent encounter.
Fear is a real emotion and it runs both ways. Don’t wake up one day wishing you could have done more to give your dog the best chance of survival when they needed it most.
Ceto is living proof that your dog is simply too valuable for anything less than your best.