K-9 Deaths: A Qualitative Analysis

• In Event: Roundtable: Policing

Abstract

This paper reports finding of a qualitative investigation of narratives about police dog deaths occurring 2011-2015. Narrative statements about police dog deaths were compiled from the Officer Down Memorial Page (odmp.org). A previous analysis of the cause of death for police dogs between 2011 and 2015 revealed that approximately 29% of police dog deaths were caused by heat exhaustion. A majority of these heat exhaustion deaths occurred as a result of the animals being left in patrol cars. The purpose of the current analysis is to examine how police dog deaths are framed and to compare narratives where the animals died as a result of negligence to those narratives where violence or other causes of death are noted.

Authors

• Jennifer Schally, Penn State Harrisburg

• Daniela Barberi, Penn State Harrisburg

• Jennifer Gibbs, Penn State Harrisburg