A police canine is an extension of the handler. The actions of the canine are directly related to the training, deployment and actions of the handler.
The police canine may be deployed as any other tool of force, dependent on the circumstances presented the handler at the time of the deployment. As in any other case where force is used, the need for that force should be used in the presence of danger to the handler, another officer or the public, to counter either resistance or outright assault.
In that it is less-lethal in nature, the use of a canine to prevent flight of an offender is an option if the safety of the public, or the safety of the officers pursuing is jeopardized.
