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A One Health Approach to Public Safety: A Review of Police Canines in the United States

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  • Meera Gatlin

    (Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA)

Abstract

Working dogs are an essential part of modern society, and police canines (K9s) in the United States are amongst the most recognizable of all working dogs. Given the dearth of published data on active police canines in the U.S. and the calls for police reform, an interdisciplinary effort is necessary to comprehensively understand how these dogs are best used for the benefit of society. This review paper relies on veterinary public health expertise to present a comprehensive overview of police canine use by municipal law enforcement in the United States, including known impacts and gaps in knowledge. The existing literature from animal-assisted interventions (AAI) provides evidence to ensure working dog well-being, while human–animal bond research contributes to officer safety and canine partnership. Lastly, law enforcement and public health agendas (LEPH) assure the team’s successful efforts in built environments and local neighborhoods. These frameworks acknowledge the complexity of police dog use, spanning from punitive to public relations, which mirrors the role of law enforcement in U.S. society. This paper proposes the use of a One Health framework to ensure police canine contributions to society, including suggested approaches to partner municipal police with veterinary medicine and public health, and integrate One Health in promoting public safety for local communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Meera Gatlin, 2024. "A One Health Approach to Public Safety: A Review of Police Canines in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(9), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:9:p:1235-:d:1480597
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carolyn Burns & Marla Buchanan, 2020. "Factors that Influence the Decision to Seek Help in a Police Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.
    2. Karin Hediger & Andrea Meisser & Jakob Zinsstag, 2019. "A One Health Research Framework for Animal-Assisted Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-6, February.
    3. Hickey, Edward R. & Hoffman, Peter B., 2003. "To bite or not to bite: Canine apprehensions in a large, suburban police department," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 147-154.
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