Just want to add that I'm not trying to sound condescending, I thought long and hard how to word that last post but couldn't make it sound innocent. I'm excrutiatingly ignorant on this topic and geniunely curious.

I responded, I think at the same time you were posting. So you might have missed it.

I don't want to Monday morning QB what they did, because they acted on what they were presented with at the time, but in my training and experience, this would not have been a K-9 deployment. This is a tragic case and should be respected as such, but especially to honor our fallen four legged partner, we must take what lessons we can from it.

At my PD, we do usually have immediate access to less-lethal force options (maybe they did not). This case would have probably been a wall-and-stall or less-lethal deployment. From reading the back story, apparantly the first handler on scene refused to send his dog (as I would have) and they had to call another one in. Again, I don't want to bash the handler, he did what he thought was right, but I would not have sent on this.

This was Los Angeles County Sheriff's office. Several years back.
The video or I should say a portion of the video was released by family members after a court settlement.
It really was a result of poor communication. The videographer, a deputy, seemed to have the only good vantage point of the suspect, and didn't communicate this too others on scene. Therefore our ability to second guess the deployment from a vantage point they didn't have.
Results, dead dog (no he wasn't muzzled) and a settlement for the family (bad guy was gonna get himself killed, it was his entire effort here).
We can talk about the problems with this deployment all day, I think the handler/s in that agency would have debriefed this one over and over. I am also sure there is more to this than is generally known producing questions as to why this wasn't a SWAT activation, who authorized/ordered a PSD to be used? What were the instructions to the perimeter and arrest teams at to deadly force coverage? This can go on and on.

The use of a PSD in potentially armed barricades is increasing around the world. The demand for solutions to deadly force encounters by bureaucrats and politicians, and the inability of them to see from a ground up perspective has pushed this (Ok, my opinion here but I think I am not far off). Since the PSD is the only thing we have that is directable, controllable, recallable, and none lethal it has seen increasing use. What else can go over, under, around, between, do it in the dark, be reused, be redeployed if events change, and be patrol car portable?? Nothin'

But, police work isn't science. it isn't perfect, and is subject to so many variables we will see good intentions, plans, and efforts occasionally go awry.

Well said, Kevin.