Policy Text
Kern County Sheriff’s Office
Policies and Procedures
TITLE:
POLICE SERVICE DOG DEPLOYMENT
NO: Q-100
APPROVED: Donny Youngblood, Sheriff-Coroner
REFERENCE:
EFFECTIVE:
March 1, 2021
REVIEWED:
REVISED:
UPDATED:
Q-100
POLICY
The Police Service Dog Program mission is to provide a reliable patrol dog capability through
the deployment of trained officer-dog teams to aid in law enforcement. The primary task of the
canine team is to search and locate criminal suspect(s), and at times, apprehend criminal
suspect(s). The use of a Sheriff’s Office canine to physically apprehend a person is a use of force
and as such, is subject to the requirements and provisions of Sheriff’s Office Policy and
Procedure Manual Section F-100 as well as applicable state and federal law.
All field supervisors and watch commanders shall be familiar with KCSO’s canine policy and
use of force reporting requirements. A canine handler shall have approval from a canine
supervisor, fi