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Policy 309Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/21, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentCanines - 1Canines 309.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy establishes guidelines for the use of canines to augment police services to the community including, but not limited to locating individuals and contraband and apprehending criminal offenders. 309.2 POLICY It is the policy of the Santa Ana Police Department that teams of handlers and canines meet and maintain the appropriate proficiency to effectively and reasonably carry out legitimate law enforcement objectives. 309.3 ASSIGNMENT Canine teams should be assigned to assist and supplement the Field Operations Bureau 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 and then only with the approval of the Watch Commander. 309.4 CANINE SERGEANT The canine sergeant shall be appointed by and directly responsible to the Field Operations Bureau Commanderor the authorized designee. The responsibilities of the sergeant 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. (c)Maintaining a liaison with command staff and functional supervisors. (d)Maintaining a liaison with other agency canine sergeants. (e)Maintaining accurate records to document canine activities. (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. Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Policy Manual Canines Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/21, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentCanines - 2309.5 REQUESTS FOR CANINE TEAMS Field Operations Bureau members are encouraged to request the use of a canine. Requests for a canine team from department units outside of the Field Operations Bureau shall be reviewed by the Watch Commander, Canine Sergeant, or their designee. 309.5.1 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)A sergeant shall be dispatched to the scene along with the canine officer. (b)Canine teams shall not be used for any assignment that is not consistent with this policy. (c)The canine handler shall have the authority to decline a request for any specific assignment that he/she deems unsuitable. (d)Calling out of off-duty canine teams must be approved by the Watch Commander. (e)It shall be the responsibility of the canine handler to coordinate operations with agency personnel in order to minimize the risk of unintended injury. (f)It shall be the responsibility of the canine handler to complete all necessary reports or as directed. 309.5.2 PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC EVENTS All public requests for a canine team shall be reviewed and, if appropriate, approved by the canine sergeant prior to making any resource commitment. The canine sergeant, or their designee 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 sergeant, or their designee. The request and subsequent authorization shall be made in writing. 309.6 APPREHENSION GUIDELINES A canine may be used to locate and apprehend a suspect if the canine handler reasonably believes that the individual has either committed, is committing or threatening to commit any serious offense and if any of the following conditions exist: (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 Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Policy Manual Canines Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/21, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentCanines - 3Absent 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. Absent a change in circumstances that present an imminent threat to officers, the canine or the public, a canine's presence may be used solely as a ruse to compel a suspect's surrender. In all applications, once the suspect has been located and no longer reasonably appears to present a threat or risk of escape, the handler should secure the canine as soon as it becomes reasonably pr