Oakland Police Trained In Encountering Animals
OAKLAND (KCBS) _ The Oakland Police Department and the SPCA say they have just about completed the proper training for sergeants on how to respond to calls involving wildlife in the wake of some high profile incidents involving animals.
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
Last year, officers shot and killed a deer and, in a separate incident, a family dog, when they felt threatened by the animals. This prompted Chief Anthony Batts to contact the SPCA to request special training for officers who may come in contact with wild animals, or even pets.
The 80 percent of officers on the force who have already finished the training watched a specially prepared video instructing them to, above all else, slow down their reaction time when the situation isn't life threatening.
"Many of the circumstances that we fall into we want our supervisors to see that officers fall into tough situations every day, not just with animals, but with the humans they come across," said Deputy Chief Eric Breshears. "Our expectation is that as an officer goes to any scene if they have to act quickly then they act quickly and appropriately. If they have the time to slow down and evaluate they should do that."
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