Number
200823
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. RAINEY
Title
Substitute resolution urging the Fire and Police Commission to disallow canines as a use of force.
Analysis
This resolution urges the Fire and Police Commission to disallow canines as a use of force.
Body
Whereas, Milwaukee Police Department Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 320 - Canines provides procedures governing Police Department use of canines; and
Whereas, SOP 320.15-C. states that “The deployment of a police canine for the location and contact apprehension of a suspect is a use of force that shall be consistent with SOP 460 - Use of Force”; and
Whereas, Milwaukee Police Department Standard Operating Procedure 460 provides procedures governing Police Department use of force; and
Whereas, The un-redacted portions of SOP 460 do not state a specific procedure related to use of canines; and
Whereas, The use of canines as attack dogs against people of color has a long and violent history that is tied to the slave trade, colonization of the United States, patrolling of Nazi concentration camps, and attack of Civil Rights protestors; and
Whereas, Non-White suspects constitute the largest percentage of people suffering from police dog bites; and
Whereas, Police dogs are trained for maximum aggression and have bites that are far more lethal than those of house pets; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Fire and Police Commission is urged to amend MPD SOPs 320 and 460 to disallow canines as a use of force.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 176374-2
Tea B. Norfolk
10/13/2020