The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office is voicing its support for the continued use of police dogs on the force, as Assembly Bill 742 threatens to limit their deployment in California.
The bill, which has passed the Public Safety Committee and gained support from organizations such as the NAACP and ACLU, aims to restrict the use of police dogs in apprehensions and crowd control.
Law enforcement agencies like the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office argue that K-9 units can be crucial in saving lives during high-risk situations. Assemblymember Corey Jackson, the bill's author, contends that police K-9s may cause more harm than good, particularly for Black and Latino individuals who, according to 2021 data from the state's Department of Justice, are more likely to be harmed during K-9 deployments.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office reports that out of approximately 400 K-9 deployments, 33 apprehension cases involved uncooperative or non-surrendering suspects. The apprehended individuals included 14 Hispanic, 11 White, 4 Black, and 4 mixed-race individuals. Sheriff Withrow argues that these statistics reflect community demographics rather than potential bias.
Deputy Michael Stewart believes K-9 intervention can help prevent situations requiring lethal force from suspects or officers. While Jackson advocates for alternative methods, the sheriff's office cautions the public to avoid approaching or intervening with K-9s at active crime scenes. Voters may not have the opportunity to decide on the bill for several months or up to a year.