Quote: Jim Nash

Ed , Lansing Michigan PD did a study on the effectiveness of Police K9s vs Police Officers searching , they had success rates and time each took to do searches . The searches were tests using the K9 and then just officers . I don't have time to find it but I'm sure that if you google it you may find it . I know it has been referenced in other K9 articles . The success and times with the K9s where far better then the officers .

I have found lots of mention of that study too. For example, the Spokane, Washington Police Department’s website references the Lansing study. QUOTE: The study indicates that a single K9 team was able to complete building searches seven times faster than a team of four officers. Additionally, the K9 team had a 93% success rate, while the human team had a success rate of 59%, suggesting K9’s are 44% more effective than their human counterparts. END QUOTE

And QUOTE: ... In a study performed by the Lansing, Michigan Police Department, canine teams found 27 of 29 people hidden in a variety of buildings, compared to 17 of 29 found by officers unaccompanied by canines. END QUOTE from http://vetmedicine.about.com/library/news/bl-heska-rescue.htm

More tomorrow.

New London, Connecticut:

QUOTE:
The New London Police Department started its first canine program in 1984. It continued through 1993, when it was disbanded for fiscal reasons. During this period, two officers and a total of five police canines served our agency. The canine teams logged 300 criminal arrests and recovered more than $18,000 in stolen property and contraband. Two of the five police canines were seriously injured while effecting criminal arrests; one was retired due to injuries received from a suspect.

The canine program was revived in 1998, consisting of three police canine teams trained by our agency and certified through the North American Police Work Dog Association and the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association. Since 1998 our canine teams have been responsible for 59 criminal arrests and the recovery of more than $3,000.00 worth of contraband and stolen property. There have been 860 documented canine uses since 1998.

The “Tactical Patrol Canine” utilized by the New London Police Department is trained in Obedience, Agility, Tracking/Trailing, Building Search, Area Search, Evidence Recovery, Passive Gunfire Response and Aggression Control. Our police canines provide support to the Uniformed Services Division during the search for suspects, missing persons, evidence or contraband. Our canine teams also provide tactical support to our narcotics unit during high-risk warrant entries and high-risk warrant service. END QUOTE from http://www.ci.new-london.ct.us/content/27/619/623/643/default.aspx

Grants Pass, Oregon:

QUOTE: The K9's average 3 to 4 deployments each night and are responsible for over 200 captures of violent criminals. END QUOTE
from http://www.grantspassoregon.gov/Index.aspx?page=82



Garland, Texas:

QUOTE:
Building Searches: 52
Tracks: 88
Criminals Captured by Canines on Building Searches or Tracks: 34
Narcotics Searches: 46
Arrests by Canine Officers: 195
Calls Canine Units Responded to: 1,213 END QUOTE
Manhours Saved: 150.55 from http://www.garlandpolice.com/Home/Departments/Public+Safety/Police/P06-F.htm

P.S. More tomorrow afternoon.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (01/13/2009 09:49 PM)
Edit reason: p.s.

Allen, Texas:

QUOTE: The K-9 Unit was established in 1997 and is responsible for many narcotic seizures and criminal apprehensions. .....

K-9 Activity for the Year 2007:

Directed Patrols 7,920
Arrests 104
Park and Walks 1,850
Misdemeanor 84
Walk Arounds 850
Felony 20
Citations 220
K-9 Team Assists 236
Contacts 1904
Other Units 217
Field Interviews 70
Other Agencies 19
Alarm Calls 283
Off Duty Call Outs 15
Tactical Searches 198
Public Demonstrations 11
K-9 Apprehensions 11
Narcotic Searches/Seizures 333/94

Total Calls 1,581

END QUOTE from
http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/police/patrol_svcs/k9.htm

They don't all publish stats; that's why they are dribbling in like this as I dig 'em up.

 Quote: Jim Nash

Ed , Lansing Michigan PD did a study on the effectiveness of Police K9s vs Police Officers searching , they had success rates and time each took to do searches . The searches were tests using the K9 and then just officers . I don't have time to find it but I'm sure that if you google it you may find it . I know it has been referenced in other K9 articles . The success and times with the K9s where far better then the officers .

I have found plenty of reference to this 1990 study done for the Lansing PD, but I can't find the study. I have found quotes from it, too, about single K9 teams typically completing building searches seven times faster than four officers, and a dog team finding hidden suspects at a 93% rate as opposed to human officers' rate of 59%.

Has anyone here ever seen the actual study? I could use a link. (I thought I was pretty good at working the internet ... but I am humbled. )

Connie... since 1990 was the pre-WWW era. Many studies that are referenced are not available online (unless you happen to have a subscription to whatever journal they are published in). (One of the frustrating things I learned when searching for studies online in my university days, which were shortly after the WWW era. ) I think this study is one of them. However, I've emailed the Lansing Police to see if they know anything about it... maybe I'll get a reply!

In the meantime, Ed, you could check out a book called "Police Education and Training in a Global Society" by Peter C. Kratcoski. Thre is a chapter (Chapter 25) called "Barks and Bites? The Impact of Training on Police Canine Force Outcomes" by Charlie Mesloh that examines the literature, then reports a study the did about bite ratios depending on training (bark and hold, vs bite and hold). Their conclusion is that bite ratios were higher for the bark and hold dogs. The also noted that Malinois had a higher bite ratio than the GSD.

Even if that study is not of use to you, some of the studies he cites in his lit review might be more what you are looking for.

Oh, yeah, you're right! I wasn't even thinking of 1990 as being pre-WWW. Duh. It was invented around 1989, so you're right that 1990 was embryonic.

That email was a great idea.

Not to mention - graphical browsers didn't exist until 1993, so non-computer-scientists/non-government people didn't even really use the WWW till then.

No word back yet from the Lansing police.

I always wonder about a study that has no significant differences being quoted as showing a significant difference. If you read carefully the study also shows Schutzhund trained dogs to be under control (less bites????) per find than non-schutzhund trained dogs? Odd when you figure that GSD's represent the majority of schh trained dogs vs. malinois.

Just a differing view of the GSD vs Malinois bite ratio???

The study leaves a lot of questions to be answered and infers some things which really could have and should have been left alone until further information is available. I also wonder what the effect of doing this study in a state that is pretty much anti B&H and strongly involved in the USPCA again a anti B&H grassroots group (just read the web site) had on the outcome.

I would like to see a similar study done in a local where B&H has a long history and prevalent in the training of the dogs.

This thread is great I would like to see a bunch of info on stats involving police dogs. Good reference material.

 Quote: angela burrell

Connie... since 1990 was the pre-WWW era. Many studies that are referenced are not available online (unless you happen to have a subscription to whatever journal they are published in). (One of the frustrating things I learned when searching for studies online in my university days, which were shortly after the WWW era. ) I think this study is one of them. However, I've emailed the Lansing Police to see if they know anything about it... maybe I'll get a reply!

In the meantime, Ed, you could check out a book called "Police Education and Training in a Global Society" by Peter C. Kratcoski. Thre is a chapter (Chapter 25) called "Barks and Bites? The Impact of Training on Police Canine Force Outcomes" by Charlie Mesloh that examines the literature, then reports a study the did about bite ratios depending on training (bark and hold, vs bite and hold). Their conclusion is that bite ratios were higher for the bark and hold dogs. The also noted that Malinois had a higher bite ratio than the GSD.

Even if that study is not of use to you, some of the studies he cites in his lit review might be more what you are looking for.

Kevin, I can't really comment since I have no knowledge of the subject, but I did find when I did research on any topic that the lit review is a great place to find references you might not otherwise find.

In other news, I received a reply from the Lansing police dept that they are going to see if they can find the 1990 study. They must be very busy so I thought it was very nice of him to try and find it!