Police dogs have always helped their human counterparts through their eyes and nose, and now some of the dogs are getting cameras that transmit live video, the Associated Press reports. The devices attach to dogs’ backs on a vest and transmit video to a handler watching from a screen, possibly on their wrist or around their necks, so the officers can better assess what they are up against before they go into a situation. “If we have a really close encounter with armed people it doesn’t work out well for anyone,” said Portland, Or., police K-9 officer Shawn Gore. “If we can gain distance it gives us lots of options to negotiate and de-escalate.”
David Ferland of the United States Police Canine Association, a training program for police dogs, said departments use the cameras when dogs go out to look for suspects, missing people or explosives, for the dog’s safety and for intelligence gathering. Ferland suspects fewer than five percent of agencies have the cameras because they cost between $6,000 and $20,000. Some K-9 academies are already training dogs with vests and cameras so they get used to them. K-9 cameras started gaining traction a decade ago after departments saw their success in helping dogs in the military. Law enforcement agencies pay for the cameras through donations or use forfeiture or drug seizure money. Portland has used 10 cameras on its 10 K-9s since about 2012 and is in the process of getting newer cameras, costing about $20,000 each. Tactical Electronics started making K-9 cameras in 2006 and has sold 5,000 to 6,000 to law enforcement and military around the world.