TY - JOUR PY - 2003// TI - To bite or not to bite: Canine apprehensions in a large, suburban police department JO - Journal of criminal justice A1 - Hickey, Edward R. A1 - Hoffman, Peter B. SP - 147 EP - 154 VL - 31 IS - 2 N2 - There is a dearth of empirical research on the use of police canines. This article examines the use of canines in a large, suburban police department over a six-year period (1993-1998). Use of force reports, canine-apprehension reports, arrest data, and the canine unit's monthly activity reports were reviewed. Five rates were calculated: (1) canine-apprehension rate, (2) canine bite rate, (3) rate of bites resulting in any medical treatment, (4) rate of bites resulting in medical treatment at a hospital, and (5) officer injury rate. Of the suspects apprehended by canines, 14.1 percent were bitten, 9.1 percent received medical attention (on the scene or at a hospital), and 4.8 percent received medical attention at a hospital. The canine bite rate was significantly lower for non-White suspects than for White suspects. The use of rate-based information for the evaluation of policy and procedure concerning the use of police canines is discussed.

LA - SN - 0047-2352 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0047-2352(02)00221-0 ID - ref1 ER -