318_-_Canines

Policy 318Mountain View Police Department Mountain View PD Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/09/04, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Mountain View Police DepartmentCanines - 1Canines 318.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy establishes guidelines for the use of canines to augment police services in the community, including but not limited to locating individuals and contraband and apprehending criminal offenders. 318.1.1 DEFINITIONS Serious Offense - Any felony; any crime of violence; or any misdemeanor involving weapons or violence. 318.2 POLICY It is the policy of the Mountain View Police Department that teams of handlers and canines meet and maintain the appropriate proficiency to effectively and reasonably carry out legitimate law enforcement objectives. 318.2.1 CROWD CONTROL The use of canines in crowd control is explicitly prohibited. 318.3 ASSIGNMENT Canine teams should be assigned to assist and supplement the Field Operations Division to function primarily in assist or cover assignments. However, they may be assigned by the Watch Commander to other functions, such as routine calls for service, based on the current operational needs. Canine teams should generally not be assigned to handle routine matters that will take them out of service for extended periods of time. If such assignment is necessary, it should only be made with the approval of the Watch Commander. 318.4 CANINE COORDINATOR The canine coordinator shall be appointed by and directly responsible to the Field Operations Division or the authorized designee. The responsibilities of the coordinator include but are not limited to: (a)Reviewing all canine use reports to ensure compliance with policy and to identify training issues and other needs of the program. (b)Maintaining a liaison with the vendor kennel, veterinary, and emergency veterinary vendors. (c)Maintaining a liaison with command staff and functional supervisors. (d)Maintaining a liaison with other agency canine coordinators. (e)Maintaining accurate records to document canine activities. Mountain View Police Department Mountain View PD Policy Manual Canines Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/09/04, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Mountain View Police DepartmentCanines - 2(f)Recommending and overseeing the procurement of equipment and services for the teams of handlers and canines. (g)Scheduling all canine-related activities. (h)Ensuring the canine teams are scheduled for regular training to maximize their capabilities. 318.5 REQUESTS FOR CANINE TEAMS Field Operations Division members are encouraged to request the use of a canine. Requests for a canine team from department units outside of the Field Operations Division shall be reviewed by the Watch Commander. 318.5.1 OUTSIDE AGENCY REQUEST All requests for canine assistance from outside agencies must be approved by the Watch Commander and are subject to the following: (a)Canine teams shall not be used for any assignment that is not consistent with this policy. (b)The canine handler shall have the authority to decline a request for any specific assignment that he/she deems unsuitable. (c)Calling out off-duty canine teams is discouraged. (d)It shall be the responsibility of the canine handler to coordinate operations with agency personnel in order to minimize the risk of unintended injury. (e)It shall be the responsibility of the canine handler to complete all necessary reports or as directed. 318.5.2 PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION All public requests for a canine team shall be reviewed and, if appropriate, approved by the canine coordinator prior to making any resource commitment. The canine coordinator is responsible for obtaining resources and coordinating involvement in the demonstration to include proper safety protocols. Canine handlers shall not demonstrate any apprehension work unless authorized to do so by the canine coordinator. 318.5.3 HANDLER UNIFORMS A canine handler who is on duty in that capacity may be authorized to wear a specified two-piece jumpsuit in lieu of the standard uniform. Raid jackets are authorized for off-duty call-outs in lieu of the standard uniform. 318.6 APPREHENSION GUIDELINES A canine may be used to locate and apprehend a suspect if the canine handler reasonably believes that the individual has committed, is committing, or is threatening to commit any serious offense and if any of the following conditions exist: Mountain View Police Department Mountain View PD Policy Manual Canines Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2020/09/04, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Mountain View Police DepartmentCanines - 3(a)There is a reasonable belief the suspect poses an imminent threat of violence or serious harm to the public, any officer, or the handler. (b)The suspect is physically resisting or threatening to resist arrest and the use of a canine reasonably appears to be necessary to overcome such resistance. (c)The suspect is believed to be concealed in an area where entry by other than the canine would pose a threat to the safety of officers or the public. It is recognized that situations may arise that do not fall within the provisions set forth in this policy. Such events require consideration of the totality of the circumstances and the use of an objective reasonableness standard applied to the decision to use a canine. Absent a reasonable belief that a suspect has committed, is committing, or is threatening to commit a serious offense, mere flight from a pursuing officer, without any of the above conditions, shall not serve as the basis for the use of a canine to apprehend a suspect. Use of a canine to locate and apprehend a suspect wanted for a lesser criminal offense than those identified above requires approval from the Watch Commander. Abs