Deputy Chief Constable Doug LePard’s Statement Regarding BC Provincial Policing Standards for Police Dogs

“We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the policy development working group led by the Police Services Division, as well as the Advisory Committee on Policing Standards in developing policies for police service dogs,” says Deputy Chief Constable Doug LePard.

“As a result of that process, provincial policies have been developed to balance the effective use of police dogs with the need to conduct a risk assessment, before their deployment, to ensure that their use and the risk of a suspect being bit is in proportion to the seriousness of the offence in all the circumstances.  The VPD supports these policies, which are consistent with the our principles of justification and proportionality in all police actions.”

“Under the control of a handler, police dogs remain a valuable tool to apprehend criminals who pose a public safety risk or those who choose to flee from the police after committing a criminal offence.”