Policy Text
Page 1 of 9 - General Order 7-10 (05/25/23)
POLICE CANINE UTILIZATION
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: POLICE CANINE UTILIZATION
Chapter
7 Number
10 Pages
9
References:
CALEA Standards: 41.1.5 a
Related Orders: 01 -01 Effective Date: 05/25 /2023
Revised by: Review
Prv. Rev. Date: 04/01/2019
Chief of Police:
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to establish the procedures and guidelines governing the use of
trained Police Canine Teams.
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This policy is due for review. The K-9 unit will use a web -based program
to report canine activities. The procedures for reporting canine bites have been updated. The
specific changes are noted in bold italicized text throughout the document.
III. POLICY
It is the policy of the Richmond Police Department to utilize trained police service canines and
sworn police officers trained as canine handlers for the prevention and detection of narcotics,
criminal activities, the apprehension of suspects in serious offenses, tracking, general evidence
gathering, building searches and the protection of police officers and citizens from serious injury or
death. [CALEA 41.1.5 a]
IV. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
All employees are expected to fully comply with the guidelines and timelines set forth in this
general order. Failure to comply will result in appropriate corrective action. Responsibility rests
with the Division Commander to ensure that any violations of policy are investigated and
appropriate training, counseling and/or disciplinary action is initiated.
This directive is for internal use only, and does not enlarge an employee’s civil liability in any way.
It should not be construed as the creation of a higher standard of safety or case in an evidentiary
sense, with respect to third party claims. Violation of this directive, if proven, can only form the
basis of a complaint by this Department, and then only in a non-judicial administrative setting.
V. DEFINITIONS
Page 2 of 9 - General Order 7 -10 (05/25 /23)
POLICE CANINE UTILIZATION A. POLICE SERVICE CANINE - Any canine utilized by the Department.
B. PATROL CANINE - Police service c anine trained /certified to search buildings /article s/
areas, track suspects , and assist in the apprehension of suspect(s) .
C. NARCOTIC DETECTOR CANINE - Police service canine trained /certified to search and
alert/ respond to the odor of illegal substance s.
D. EXPLOSIVES/WEAPONS DETECTOR CANINE – Police service canine trained /certified
to search and alert on certain odors of e xplosive substances.
E. WEAPON/SMOKELESS DETECTOR CANINE – Police service canine trained/certified to
search and alert the odor of smokeless pow der.
F. BLOODHOUND – Police service canine trained/certified to trail a specific person after
being scented to the individual .
G. SCENT ARTICLE – An item used by the bloodhound team to get the smell of a specific
individual that would allow the bloodhound to obt ain their specific scent prior to starting a
trail in search of the specific individual .
VI. PROCEDURE [CALEA 4 1.1.5 a]
A. Proper Utilization of Patrol Canine Teams:
The utilization of Patrol Canine Teams is authorized without supervisory appro val in the
following situations:
1. Dispatch - To respond on all alarm calls, insecure buildings, burglary in-progress calls
and any assist calls that are dispatched.
2. Tracking Operations - In felony and violent or potentially violent misdemeanor
situations, to locate suspects, missing persons, stolen/abandoned property and
instruments of a crime. During tracking operations , officers should avoid excessive
noise, walking around and the use of flashlights while the canine is tracking. Doing this
can decrease o fficer safety and possibl y contaminate the area .
3. Building Searches - To search buildings believed burglarized and buildings utilized by
a felony suspect to escape police apprehension.
a) Police officers shall not search a building if a Patrol Canine Team is available.
The area may become inadvertently contaminated. Utilizing the patrol canine
team to conduct building searches minimizes the probability of injury to an
officer.
b) The patrol canine handler must be reasonably certain that the building being
searched is clear of innocent persons.
c) The patrol canine may not be used “off lead” where there may be a small child,
mentally incompetent person , or physically incapacitated person present, or
where there may be hazards to the canine (broken glass, dangerous chemicals,
etc.).
Page 3 of 9 - General Order 7 -10 (05/25 /23)
POLICE CANINE UTILIZATION 4. Search and Seizure - Patrol canines may be utilized to locate evidence during a search.
The evidence may be seized when all legal requirements for such search and seizure
have been met.
NOTE: The use of a narcotic detector canine is neither a search nor seizure under the
4th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The detection of the drugs by the
canine may, however, supply the necessary probable cause for the search. The United
States Supreme Court has held that the 4th Amendm ent does not require reasonable
articulable suspicion to justify using a narc