K-9 Unit 06-12

FLORIDA CITY PO LICE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE 06-12 Page 1 TITLE: K-9 Patrol NUMBER: 06-12 EFFECTIVE: SEPTEMBER 06.2015 STANDARDS: CFA 17.02, 17.11 ____________________________________ PURPOSE: To provide guidelines for the management and usage of the Department’s canine (K-9) uni t(s) in field operations SCOPE: All departmental personnel. POLICY : It shall be the policy of the Florida City Police Department to use police canine (K-9) teams as an additional supportive tool to more effectively attain the primary goal of crime preven tion by deterrence, offender apprehension, and narcotic detection and confiscation. The Canine Units are assigned to a particular shift, which is part of the Patrol Unit. PROCEDURES: General Procedures: A. The City will purchase canines from a dog trainer that has the best canine available. Before purchasing, the City will take the canine to the City veterinarian for an extensive medical screening. The screening will include, but may not be limited to X -rays, blood work, dental exams, parasite(s) and/or skin condition(s). If the vet approves the canine, the dog will then be assigned to the chosen handler. B. The canine team(s) will consist of trained officers to work in tandem with a trained command dog. The canine team(s) will attend an approved canine school which is recognized by FDLE. FDLE standards include: obedience, agility, handler protection, apprehension and recall, building searches, area/article searches and tracking. Officers that are selected to become members of the canine Unit and are assigned an apprehension canine will meet Florida Department of Law Enforcement K -9 guidelines, by successfully completing a 400 hour certification course within 18 months. All Patrol handlers will renew their Patrol Canine Certification yearly after the init ial 400 hour certification C. Additionally, the team may receive narcotics detection training. In accordance with the “Garcia Rule”, the canine handler(s) will receive 30 minutes each day for canine maintenance and care, and one hour on his/her “Friday”. D. All Controlled Substances and Explosive Detection Dogs will be certified by an independent testing authority (USPCA, NNDDA, NAPWDA, IFRI, or equivalent) after completing training, prior to being placed in service. Vendor certifications will only be considered a secondary certification. Annual recertification for detection of controlled substances and explosives will be conducted within the K - 9 Unit in accordance with the original testing standards or equivalent. E. The canine team(s) will patrol in mo dified, specially equipped vehicles designated for such duty and clearly marked with K -9 decals. Each vehicle is equipped with a remote control door FLORIDA CITY PO LICE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE 06-12 Page 2 opening device and an air conditioner alarm for system failure. F. Although the canine unit is to be utili zed for canine involved calls, this does not preclude them from handling normal calls for service should the need arise. The canine team(s) will respond to any of the calls listed below which include priority responses: 1. All in progress calls, intrusion and/or robbery alarms, events in progress or that have just occurred where the use of a canine is possibly beneficial. 2. All felony crimes where the suspect(s) has fled on foot and a possible track could develop. 3. Alarms with open door(s) or window(s ) where the canine team(s) will be the primary building search unit. 4. All major disturbances, large crowds or parties where the canine unit could stand -by should an unruly situation develop. 5. Missing children and/or elderly person calls. 6. Area sea rches for discarded evidence. 7. Provide routine and requested back -up. 8. If conditions warrant, may search for narcotics or explosives if the team(s) are certified to search in these areas. 9. The K -9 officer may request to be sent to a scene where he /she feels the team may be a benefit. 10. Officer/Citizen protection. G. Call -outs will be on a call to call basis. If an officer requests the canine team, the supervisor will gather the facts of the call to determine if the team should be called out. If the situation warrants a K -9 call -out, the Florida City Police Dispatcher will notify the Florida City K -9 team first. If they are unable to respond to the scene, dispatch will then contact Miami -Dade Canine should be requested. When the K -9 unit is reque sted for a specific problem, the handler will first evaluate the situation to determine if in fact the use of the K -9 is feasible. In instances where it has been determined the canine will not be used, the handler will stand by to give other assistance if necessary. The decision to apply the police canine to a specific police operation is the responsibility of the canine handler after conferring with the primary officer on scene, with the concurrence of the on -duty supervisor. H. All mutual aid requests sh all be coordinated