Don’t Shoot My Dog: A Case Study of Law Enforcement Canine Encounters and Community Activism

• In Event: Roundtable: Crime and Policy

Abstract

Before 2016, the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) governing body required little education for officers in dealing with canine encounters while on duty. In a two-year period, officers from the city of Lewiston, Idaho shot three canines. These events sparked public outrage and widespread criticism of the department. This project explores the aftermath of these canine shootings, focusing on community activism and law enforcement innovation to promulgate policy changes to protect officers, civilians, and canines in the community.

Author

• Angela Wartel, Lewis-Clark State College