382_-_Service_Animals

Policy 382Mountain View Police Department Mountain View PD Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/16, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Mountain View Police DepartmentService Animals - 1Service Animals 382.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to provide the guidelines necessary to ensure the rights of individuals who use service animals to assist with disabilities are protected in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). 382.1.1 DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include: Service animal - A dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability (28 CFR 35.104; Health and Safety Code § 113903). Service animal also includes a miniature horse if the horse is trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities, provided the horse is housebroken, is under the handler’s control, the facility can accommodate the horse’s type, size and weight, and the horse’s presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the facility (28 CFR 35.136(i)). 382.2 POLICY It is the policy of the Mountain View Police Department to provide services and access to persons with service animals in the same manner as those without service animals. Department members shall protect the rights of persons assisted by service animals in accordance with state and federal law. 382.3 IDENTIFICATION AND USE OF SERVICE ANIMALS Some service animals may be readily identifiable. However, many do not have a distinctive symbol, harness or collar. Service animals may be used in a number of ways to provide assistance, including: •Guiding people who are blind or have low vision. •Alerting people who are deaf or hard of hearing. •Retrieving or picking up items, opening doors or flipping switches for people who have limited use of their hands, arms or legs. •Pulling wheelchairs. •Providing physical support and assisting with stability and balance. •Doing work or performing tasks for persons with traumatic brain injury, intellectual disabilities or psychiatric disabilities, such as reminding a person with depression to take medication. Mountain View Police Department Mountain View PD Policy Manual Service Animals Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/16, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Mountain View Police DepartmentService Animals - 2•Alerting a person with anxiety to the onset of panic attacks, providing tactile stimulation to calm a person with post-traumatic stress disorder, assisting people with schizophrenia to distinguish between hallucinations and reality, and helping people with traumatic brain injury to locate misplaced items or follow daily routines. 382.4 MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES Service animals that are assisting individuals with disabilities are permitted in all public facilities and areas where the general public is allowed. Department members are expected to treat individuals with service animals with the same courtesy and respect that the Mountain View Police Department affords to all members of the public (28 CFR 35.136). 382.4.1 INQUIRY If it is apparent or if a member is aware that an animal is a service animal, the individual generally should not be asked any questions as to the status of the animal. If it is unclear whether an animal meets the definition of a service animal, the member should ask the individual only the following questions (28 CFR 35.136(f)): •Is the animal required because of a disability? •What task or service has the service animal been trained to perform? If the individual explains that the animal is required because of a disability and has been trained to work or perform at least one task, the animal meets the definition of a service animal and no further questions as to the animal’s status should be asked. The individual should not be questioned about his/her disability nor should the person be asked to provide any license, certification or identification card for the service animal. 382.4.2 CONTACT Service animals are not pets. Department members should not interfere with the important work performed by a service animal by talking to, petting or otherwise initiating contact with a service animal. 382.4.3 REMOVAL If a service animal is not housebroken or exhibits vicious behavior, poses a direct threat to the health of others, or unreasonably disrupts or interferes with normal business operations, an officer may direct the handler to remove the animal from the premises. Barking alone is not a threat nor does a direct threat exist if the person takes prompt, effective action to control the service animal (28 CFR 35.136(b)). Each incident must be considered individually and past incidents alone are not cause for excluding a service animal. Removal of a service animal may not be used as a reason to refuse service to an individual with disabilities. Members of this department are expected to provide all services as are reasonably available to an individual with a disability, with or without a service animal. Mountain View Police Department Mountain View PD Policy Manual Service Animals Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/16, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Mountain View Police DepartmentService Animals - 3382.4.4 COMPLAINTS When handling calls of a complaint regarding a service animal, members of this department should remain neutral and should be prepared to explain the ADA requirements concerning service animals to the concerned parties. Businesses are required to allow service animals to accompany their handlers into the same areas that other customers or