Specifically, one night about 2:30AM in the morning our doorbell rang. Needless to say both my wife and I sat up in bed now completely awake and very much alarmed. Likewise, both of our German Shepherds (per their usual habit), went ballistic as they ran to the door barking.
I retrieve my nightstand .40S&W and proceeded to the front door. Looking out of the window next to the door I see three police officers and police dog standing on the porch.
I gave them the “one moment please” signal and my wife got our dogs under control. I opened the door a crack, advised the officers I was armed and that our GSD’s were in their crates. I then opened the door fully to find out what they wanted at 2:30AM in the morning.
One officer proceeded to tell me that they were after a burglary suspect who was last seen jumping fences in to the backyards of our neighborhood. He then ask PERMISSION if they could search our backyard. I said “Of course.” I also warned them that there was a long “fatal funnel” on the one side of our home between the house and garden shed and to be careful. The officer said something to the effect that they would send the police canine through first. I opened my side garage door so they could get into the backyard. They said “thank you” and proceeded into our backyard.
After they had searched our backyard, they closed our gate and went on down the street to the next home.
Much politeness and courtesy on both sides, and no fatalities among anyone’s dog(s).
A knock on the door and proper identification are really all the courtesy that is needed. It sounds like your PD handled the situation very professionally. This story is how it used to work everywhere. Where I grew up we had a lot of woodland searches, complete with helicopters with searchlights. The police were always 100% respectful of property owners and they never caused any damage. Heck, they’d even secure the fence gates behind them so the livestock would stay put. I can imagine what one of those situations would be like if it went down here today. It would look like a war, and there would be fences down and fields torn up. That would be all, if we were lucky.
A bit different.
Yours was in the process of looking for the guy, not quite knowing where he might be.
This story today is a cop right behind the suspect with his eye on him.
Otherwise, yes I agree.