[Five-O]

TS,
Most LE entry teams carry a mixed bag of weapons and are configured for the job at hand taking into consideration the time of day, the bad guys history and the building/room to be taken down and a few other factors. Also most teams carry less lethal options as well including bean bag rds, pepper ball rds and the Taser option. For a routine warrant service we use the MP5 and our duty pistol S&W Tactical (40cal)...we also put one shot gun(REM 870) towards the front of the stack...usually in direct support of the ram officer behind the shield officer. In the case of a dog the very last weapon I want is a pistol or mp5. Stopping power just is not there and shooting a moving target that is trying to bite you in the balls is at best difficult. If intell indiacates a dog, having the shield maybe key in buying a second or two to get a good well aimed 00 buck shell into the dog.. this will settle the matter instantly. I have been in several dog shootings and these tactics have proven reliable and effective. This is not to say its best as there are about a half dozen ways to skin this cat. Just my experience and opinion. The non-Swat officer on a ..say domestic call.. does not have the benefit of weapons choices. At best he'll have a pistol and maybe a Taser....he will generally have a trip to the ER in his future.