The Use of Robot Dogs in Law Enforcement

• In Event: Roundtable: Policing Perspectives

Abstract

The use of robot dogs in law enforcement is one of the most contentious issues in recent times. After a critical examination of the advantages and disadvantages of using robot dogs in law enforcement, this paper calls for caution when making the decision on whether they should be used. Several questions have been addressed in this paper, such as, is the use of robot dogs cost effective? Regular police dogs have saved the lives of their handlers in many cases. Can robot dogs do the same? Some robot dogs are equipped with facial recognition technology. What should be done about the potential cases of misidentification of individuals? Will equipping robot dogs with firearms lead to desensitization on the part of law enforcement officers? Using robot dogs may undermine the use of discretion, especially when dealing with vulnerable individuals. Furthermore, there is the danger of overreliance on robot dogs performing day-to-day street-level policing duties. This paper concludes with several recommendations on the best ways to use robot dogs in law enforcement.

Author

• Norbert Ebisike, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania