Policy Text
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Explosives Detection Canine Unit
The purpose of this Order is to outline the duties and responsi bilities of the
Explosives Detection Canine Unit.
I. General
The Explosive Detection Canine Unit has the primary responsibil ity to
search and detect explosive dev ices, explosive material and fir earms that
pose threats to the public. The us e of explosive detection can ines can
help to ensure the safety and se curity of large public events, public transit
stations, transit trains and buses , national critical infrastru cture, and other
facilities. The visibility of th is unit will also provide a po sitive public
perception and may deter an expl osives attack. Information pro vided in
this order is confidential and sh ould not be provided to the ge neral public.
II. Utilization
A. The Explosive Detection Cani ne shall only be used for explos ive and
firearm detection.
B. The Explosive Detection C anine will conduct searches through out their
assigned shifts to include:
1. Self-initiated searches tha t involve random sweeps of areas and/or
items.
2. A request to search a specific area or item in response to a security
breach or suspicious item or activity.
3. A search in respons e to a bomb threat.
4. Preventative sweep of l arge public events or venues
5. Preventative sweep for visiting dignitaries.
III. Deployment Guidelines
A. The Explosive Detection Cani nes Teams may be used to search the
following areas:
1. Transit stations 2. Heavy rail stations 3. Government buildings and facilities
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4. Correctional facilities
5. Court buildings 6. Schools 7. Postal facilities 8. Parking lot and garages 9. Sporting events 10. Large public venues 11. Parks 12. Critical infrastructure 13. Others approved by th e Division Commander
B. Security Services Division Ex plosive Detection Canine Teams are
permanently assigned to the Regional Transit Police Detail and the
Folsom Dam Security Bureau. Gui delines establis hed by the Cali fornia
Department of Homeland Security r equire these teams to be avail able
as a regional asset when necessary . These teams are subject to “call-
out”, a request by other divisi ons and/or outside agencies for
explosives and/or firearms det ection services. The Division
Commander shall appoint one Securi ty Services Division Sergeant to
manage the Explosive Detection C anine Unit (Unit Sergeant) with the
authority to authorize a call-out.
C. All efforts must be made to deploy teams assigned to the Reg ional
Transit Police Detail before t hose assigned to the Folsom Dam
Security Bureau.
D. Before an Explosive Detecti on Canine team may be deployed fr om the
Folsom Dam Security Bureau, t he Bureau Commander shall ensure a
patrol trained replacement officer is in place at the Folsom Da m facility.
E. The Unit Sergeant shall confer with the direct supervisor of any handler
identified for call-out or specia l assignment prior to authoriz ing the
deployment when this call-out or s pecial assignment will affect the
handler’s regularly assigned shift.
F. If the Unit Sergeant is unavai lable, the Division Assistant Commander
shall be notified and may aut horize a call-out request.
G. Personnel assigned to the Expl osives Detection Canine Teams must
be able to respond 24 hours a day , seven days a week, when
requested by the Unit Sergeant.
H. The Unit Sergeant shall prepar e a call-out schedule indicati ng which
handler(s) will be responsible call-out responses.
I. The Unit Sergeant may schedule, in advance, a special assign ment or
deployment for events such as a preventative sweep of large pub lic
events or visiting dignitaries.
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J. All mutual aid requests shall be processed according to Depa rtment
Policy.
IV. Response Guidelines
A. Responses to suspicious object/items will be handled in acco rdance
with Field Services Operations Order 6/08, Response to Bomb
Threats, Suspicious Items , Explosives and Arson.
B. After completing a search of an area or item, the handler ma y declare
the following dispositions:
1. Change in behavior 2. No change in behavior 3. Positive alert
C. The handler shall not declare an area or item “clear”.
D. After completing a search, t he on-scene incident commander w ill
determine the next course of action.
E. The handler shall not pick up or move any suspicious item be fore or
after a search.
F. At any time, the handlers may deem an area too hazardous to search
for the safety of the canine.
V. Training
A. All training shall be conduct ed in a manner that ensures the
consistency and reliability of performance for the handler and canine.
B. Formal training shall be conducted on a daily basis.
C. Training areas should vary to ensure the practicality of sce narios.
D. Handlers shall strictly adhere to the safety procedures for all training
aids for the safety of the public, handlers, and canines.
E. Each handler is responsible fo r entering and maintaining his /her
records. Each handler