GOOD FRIEND ON THE FORCE

I am writing in response to articles appearing in your paper April 4 and 6
["FBI Probing Canine Unit," front page; "Flaws in Dog Unit Ignored, Lawyer
Says," Metro].

Contrary to what the articles implied, the Prince George's County Police
Department provides extensive training for its canine handlers and dogs.
Supervisors and managers review each incident in which a canine apprehension
occurs to ensure that we follow the law and police procedures. The scrutiny
of canine use of force mirrors our
investigations of all other use-of-force complaints.

After being appointed chief in September 1995, I initiated an extensive
review of citizen complaint investigations and police disciplinary
practices. Complaints of excessive force are at a 14-year low, even though
we employ 500 more officers today than in 1994 and calls for service have
increased by 15 percent.

The articles also imply that our department trains its canines differently
from the way other agencies do. The Prince George's County Police Department
follows the training guidelines of the U.S. Police Canine Association, a
national organization that regulates police dog certification. Our canines
are trained to locate, seize and hold offenders, which is also the standard
used by Maryland State Police, as well as the Baltimore City, Baltimore
County, Fairfax County and D.C. police departments, to name just a few.

At crime scenes, our standard operating procedures require that canine
handlers make an amplified announcement that a dog will be used. Should the
suspect make himself known, the canine is not deployed. Even after the
canine is released to search a crime scene, the handler must be able to
"recall" the dog if the suspect complies with the officer's instructions.
The department does not allow the use of a canine in a situation where the
dog cannot be recalled.

We have trained canine officers for 12 other departments, including Metro
Transit, Federal Protective Service, Loudoun County and Fairfax City. Our
canine teams receive 560 hours of initial training as well as eight hours
retraining each month. Since 1961, three department canines have died, and
numerous others have been injured while serving our community.

The Prince George's County Police Department welcomes an independent review
of our canine program. Each year canines save lives, prevent countless
injuries to officers during armed encounters, find lost children and search
for drugs. They will continue to work tirelessly to protect the citizens of
Prince George's County.

John S. Farrell

The writer is chief of police in Prince George's County.