Expert: PaulKoinig - 10/19/2008

Question
HI, I am doing a speech and report for careers in my animal tech. class and was wondering if you could help me with some info. I have to find a job discription for K9 handlers and so far its been very difficult. ANYTHING WOULD HELP...thnaks

Answer
CONTENTS:   

This General Order consists of the following numbered sections.

I.   CANINE UNIT
II.   CANINE UNIT OPERATIONS/ADMINISTRATIVE SERGEANT
III.   CANINE UNIT OPERATIONS/TRAINING SERGEANT
IV.   CANINE SERGEANT’S RESPONSIBILITIES
V.   CANINE UNIT TRAINER/CORPORAL
VI.   CANINE HANDLERS REQUIREMENTS
VII.   LAW ENFORCEMENT CANINE USE
VIII.   OPERATIONS PROCEDURES
IX.   CANINES REQUIREMENTS

PURPOSE:   

The purpose of this General Order is to establish guidelines for supervision, operation and circumstances for the use of the Sheriff’s Office Canine Teams.

SCOPE:

This order shall apply to all Sheriff’s Office members.

DISCUSSION:

The Sheriff’s Canine teams are valuable law enforcement aids for use in criminal apprehension, evidence detection, narcotics and explosive detection, crowd control, and for promoting favorable public relations.  These procedures are intended to ensure the effective use of canine teams.

DEFINITIONS:
CANINE – A specially trained dog which has been procured to execute a number of specific tasks which make use of canine attributes such as speed, agility and sense of smell, for law enforcement purposes.

CANINE DEPUTY SHERIFF – A sworn member specially trained in the care, handling, and training of a dog for law enforcement use.

CANINE TEAM – A canine deputy sheriff and his assigned Sheriff’s canine.

CANINE UNIT OPERATIONS/ADMINISTRATIVE LIEUTENANT – A sworn member with the rank of lieutenant qualified in canine law enforcement operations through specialized training.  The Lieutenant oversees the administrative operations of the unit including the day-to-day operations.
CANINE UNIT OPERATIONS/ADMINISTRATIVE SERGEANT – A sworn member with the rank of sergeant and qualified in canine law enforcement through specialized training and experience in the area of training canine teams for detection of suspects, narcotics, explosives, evidence, and ERT Canine Member also possesses experience in Patrol Operations supervision and administrative duties.

CANINE UNIT OPERATIONS/TRAINING SERGEANT - A sworn member with the rank of sergeant and qualified in canine law enforcement through specialized training and experience in the area of training canine teams for detection of suspects, narcotics, and explosives as well as evidence.

CANINE UNIT TRAINER/CORPORAL – A sworn member with the rank of corporal and qualified in canine law enforcement through specialized training and experience in training canine teams for detection of suspects, narcotics, explosives and evidence.
PROCEDURES:

I.   CANINE UNIT

The canine unit will be supervised by sergeants under the command of a lieutenant.  The sergeants are responsible for operations, administration, and training.  It will be an organizational unit of the Emergency Response Task Force.

II.   CANINE UNIT OPERATIONS/ADMINISTRATIVE SERGEANT   

A.   The Canine Unit Operations/Administrative Sergeant will be responsible for:

1.   Road supervision, deployment and discipline of canine teams when on duty and available.

2.   All administrative paperwork to include, but not be limited to:

a.   Request for compensatory time, annual leave, sick leave, and overtime.

b.   Review of all paperwork, reports, canine usage reports and schedule preparation.

c.   Continually monitor and evaluate the Sheriff’s Office members assigned to the Canine Unit.  On a annual basis, report their overall performance on the standard evaluation form in accordance with General Order 301.00
d.   Inspect monthly subordinates’ vehicles and equipment, and submit the report to the Commander or designee.
  
1)   Inspections will be unannounced.
2)   The mileage, cleanliness, maintenance, etc., will be checked.
3)   Ensure that equipment issued to Sheriff’s Office members is properly cared for and readily available.
  
e.   Review and assist with quarterly report of bite to apprehension ratios of each team.

III.   CANINE UNIT OPERATIONS/TRAINING SERGEANT

A.   The Operations/Training Sergeant will be responsible for:

1.   Training and maintenance of canine teams utilizing canine training schools when needed, as well as a regularly scheduled in-service training agenda.

2.   Maintaining current and accurate training records for canine teams, including all specialty skills.

3.   Acquisition and disposition of canines.  The Operations/Training Sergeant will be responsible, at the direction of the lieutenant with the approval of the Sheriff, for the acquisition of additional and/or replacement dogs for the canine unit as the need arises.  Additionally, the Operations/Training Sergeant will evaluate existing canines as to their work life and on the job performance.  These evaluations will include the canine’s complete health records as documented by the Sheriff’s Office designated veterinarian.  The outcome of these evaluations will determine when a canine is recommended for retirement from the canine team.

When a canine’s evaluation indicates retirement it will be brought to the lieutenant for review.  If the lieutenant concurs with the evaluation’s recommendation for retirement, such final determination and recommendation will be forwarded to the Sheriff.

4.   Road supervision, deployment and discipline of teams when available.

5.   Review canine usage and use of control reports.

6.   Maintains activity records of canine unit to include: Quarterly report of bite to apprehension ratios for each canine team.  This report will be forwarded to the Sheriff for review, via the chain of command.  

IV.   CANINE SERGEANT’S RESPONSIBILITIES

A.   The canine sergeants will assist patrol operations supervisors on canine related situations and one of the canine sergeants will take over the incident or perimeter supervision when applicable.  Whenever possible, one of the sergeants will also assist teams during tracks, building and area searches, and specialized searches for the purpose of back up, evaluation and to provide experienced assistance.

B.   The canine sergeants will share the responsibility for conducting canine vehicle inspections and completing personnel performance evaluations.

C.   The on-call canine sergeant will be notified pertaining to any of the following matters:

1.   Canine Call Outs
2.   Bite Notification
3.   Canine Motor Vehicle Accidents
4.   Injuries to canines, handlers and/or other officers due to the canine

D.   In the absence of an on-duty canine unit supervisor and when assigned to a specific detail, canine teams will operate under the supervision of a District supervisor of the area to which they are deployed.  When assigned to special details or functions, canine teams will be under the direction of the supervisor in charge of the special detail to which they are assigned.   

V.   CANINE UNIT TRAINER/CORPORAL

A.   Canine Unit Trainer/Corporal will be responsible for:

1.   Training of all Patrol Dog Academies.

2.   Training of all Detector Dog Academies (Narcotics and Explosives).

3.   Training of all ERT Canine Teams.

4.   Weekly proficiency training of Patrol Canine Teams.

5.   Bi-weekly proficiency training of Detector (Narcotics, Explosives) Canine Teams.

6.   Weekly proficiency training of municipality Canine Teams.

7.   Coordinating annual certifications for patrol and detector canine teams.

8.   Review all training records for patrol and detector canine teams.

9.   In the absence of the canine training sergeant, the canine teams will operate under the supervision of the trainer/corporal at training exercises, certification, and all other canine related issues.

VI.   CANINE HANDLER’S REQUIREMENTS

A.   The canine handler understands and must be willing to devote the necessary time needed to care for, feed and maintain his assigned Sheriff’s Office canine.

B.   The canine handler understands that he will be compensated for the hours devoted to the care, feeding and maintenance of his assigned Sheriff’s Office canine at the federally established minimum hourly wage rate.  Further, the canine handler understands that this rate will be the basis for computing overtime compensation for these duties.

C.   The canine handler understands and agrees that twenty-eight (28) hours are spent each work period in the care, feeding and maintenance of his assigned Sheriff’s Office canine.  “Work period” is defined as a twenty-eight (28) consecutive day period consisting of one hundred and seventy-one (171) hours.

D.   The canine handler understands that, in addition to compensation for the time devoted to the care, feeding and maintenance of his assigned Sheriff’s Office canine, he will receive payment for the following expenses relating to the care, feeding and maintenance of the Sheriff’s Office canine at his residence:  Carpet and miscellaneous repair and maintenance of household items – not to exceed amount approved in the budget and allotted for this purpose at time of acceptance into unit.

E.   The Sheriff’s Office will provide the following services for the care and maintenance of the Sheriff’s Office canine, which will be funded through the canine unit budget:

1.   Dog food will be supplied by the Sheriff’s Office.

2.   All veterinarian bills and associated canine medicines will be paid by the Sheriff’s Office.

3.   All canine shampoo, flea spray and dip will be paid by the Sheriff’s Office.

4.   Flea and other pest extermination for the interior of the handler’s home will be paid for by the Sheriff’s Office.

F.   A canine handler applicant must acknowledge and be fully aware of the foregoing rates of compensation and services provided by the Sheriff’s Office prior to a request to serve or continuing to serve in the canine unit.  The canine handler applicant must further understand and agree to remain in the Canine Unit for a minimum of three (3) years after initial placement in the unit.

All canine handlers will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding thereby verifying their acknowledgement, acceptance and understanding of the unique responsibilities inherent to the position of canine handler.
VII.   LAW ENFORCEMENT CANINE USE

A.   Locating Criminal Suspects

1.   Ground scent trailing can be performed in an attempt to locate criminal suspects when it is believed that the suspect has recently left the scene and is contained within a specific area.

2.   Area or building searches can be performed when it is believed that a suspect is contained within a perimeter.  An area search will be conducted if a starting point for a trail cannot be located.

3.   Except in unusual circumstances, prior to any area or building search where a suspect may be located, there will be two (2) standard canine announcements made using a megaphone before deployment.  The announcement will consist of:  “This is the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit.  I am giving you the opportunity to surrender yourself before I release a police dog, which will bite you.  Identify yourself now.”  A reasonable opportunity will be given to the suspect to physically or verbally surrender after each announcement and prior to the deployment of the canine.  When searching multi-level or multi-area buildings, additional announcements will be made on each floor, or each new area as the search progresses.

4.   Searches Off Lead – Off Lead searches may be conducted when the handler reasonably believes that the suspect presents a threat of harm to the handler, other officers, or civilians and the handler reasonably believes that the risk of physical harm to the suspect is outweighed by the risk of harm to civilians, other officers or the handler.

5.   In all situations, when the canine is on the bite, the canine will be removed from the bite as soon as the handler believes it is safe to do so.

B.   Locating Lost Persons:  The canine can be used to locate lost or missing persons by conducting a trailing exercise when a starting point is known. If a trail cannot be located an area search will be conducted.  In either event, the canine will be worked on lead, unless the circumstances presented dictate otherwise.

C.   Narcotics and explosives searches can be conducted using canines specially trained to detect and react to the odor of explosives and narcotics.   

D.   Crowd control capabilities of canine teams to clear and protect large areas will not be utilized without authorization of a Watch Commander or higher authority.

E.   Sheriff’s canines can provide vehicle and building security when there are unusual needs.

VIII.   OPERATION PROCEDURES

A.   Deployment and Use

1.   The goal in deploying canines is to provide efficient and economical service to the citizens of Palm Beach County.  Areas of canine coverage will be assigned accordingly.  Canine teams will remain in their assigned areas until the end of their tour of duty, unless otherwise directed by a supervisor, or circumstances of an emergency nature arise.  

2.   On-duty Sheriff’s canine teams will respond to crimes in progress within their assigned patrol area without specific dispatch, and will assist patrol units in potentially violent situations.  

a.   As a general rule, canine teams should not be assigned as a primary unit to “report type” calls of non-emergency nature unless so authorized by a Watch Commander during unusual complaint periods.

b.   Patrol supervisors may establish the order of assignment priority when only one (1) canine team is available for multiple calls within a supervisory area.  The Watch Commander will establish assignment priorities where conflicts between patrol areas are likely to exist.

3.   Once the canine team is deployed, tactical use and application of the canine teams will be at the discretion of individual canine handler, who will rely on his judgment, training, and experience.  

4.   Request from outside agencies, which are not of an emergency nature will be forwarded to the Emergency Response Task Force Commander for consideration.  Emergency request will be approved or disapproved by the Watch Commander.

B.   Responsibilities of Members and Supervisors

1.   Use of canines will be classified as an application of use of control; therefore, the handler will use good judgment when the possibility exists that an injury will be sustained by the suspect.

2.   It will be the responsibility of the first sworn member arriving at an incident scene to evaluate existing hazards, opportunity for immediate on-scene apprehension of criminals and relative need for immediate use of a canine team.

     3.   Patrol Supervisors or their designee will establish a perimeter on in- progress calls while the sworn members are enroute to the incident. Upon arrival the supervisor or his designee will maintain and adjust the perimeter at the direction of the canine handler.
4.   The first sworn member to arrive at an incident scene will prevent contamination of air or ground scent unless precluded by need for medical assistance, immediate apprehension or other essential factors.

5.   Upon arrival the canine handler will evaluate the facts concerning the incident and determine the type of crime before utilizing the canine.

6.   Based upon the information gathered, the canine handler will then organize the resources necessary for deployment.

7.   Establish a perimeter, if necessary.

8.   Choose back-up sworn members

a.   Organize and formulate a tactical plan.
b.   Brief the sworn member on their job assignment as a back-up.

9.   Request additional resources if necessary (i.e., Aviation, ERT, Marine and Crime Scene).

10.   Tactical use and deployment of the canine team will be at the discretion of the individual canine handler and or the canine supervisor (except for crowd control which must be authorized by the Watch Commander).

11.   Whenever a law enforcement canine apprehends and bites any person, the following procedures will be followed:

a.   The canine handler will ensure that proper medical attention be administered to anyone injured by his canine.

b.   All injuries will be examined by the canine handler and documented in a “Use of Control Report (PBSO Form # 0090).”  The canine handler will notify the canine unit sergeant and on-duty Watch Commander.

c.   All injuries sustained by any persons which result in laceration, avulsion, or hemorrhage, will be examined and attended by a physician at a medical facility.

d.   Telephone Notification – The Canine Sergeant or designee will notify the following Sheriff’s Office members whenever a serious canine related incident occurs:

1)   Canine Lieutenant
2)   Legal Advisor’s Office

e.   The canine handler will, after notifying his sergeant, carefully document all injuries by writing a Sheriff’s Office Department Offense Report, Supplemental Offense Report, Use of Control Report and Canine Usage Report (PBSO Form # 003C).  All reports will then be forwarded, through the chain of command, to the Unit Commander for review.

The Unit Commander will forward, within seven (7) days of the incident, the original Offense Report, Supplemental Offense Report, original Use of Control Report and Canine Usage Report to the Commander of Internal Affairs.  The Commander will also, within seven (7) days of the incident, forward copies of the Offense Reports, Supplemental Offense Reports and Use of Control Reports to the Legal Advisor’s Office and the Bureau of Training.

f.   Emergency Response Task Force Division will keep all health and vaccination reports on all the Sheriff’s canines.

12.   Housing of Canines at Canine Facility:
  
a.   Any canine handler on leave out of the county will house his canine at the canine facility.  The canine handler will complete a canine care form (PBSO Form #0572) at the facility and place a memorandum in each canine handler’s mailbox detailing the period of time that the canine will require care.  If the canine handler wishes to take the canine on a trip out of the county, a memorandum requesting such will be addressed to the canine unit Commander for approval.

b.   On-duty canine handlers will be responsible for the care of any canine being housed at the facility and will give such care on a routine basis to assure the canine receives adequate food, water, and exercise.

C.   Training

1.   Completion of a minimum of 400 hours of basic patrol/police dog training will be required before canine teams are deployed for official law enforcement use.  This school will be in compliance with accepted police canine standard requirements.

2.   Total control, dual personality and proficiency in obedience, agility, search, apprehension and training will be demonstrated prior to official assignment and use of canine teams.

3.   Completion of a minimum of 320 hours of basic detector dog training will be required before canine teams are deployed for official law enforcement use.

4.   Each canine team will complete an annual certification evaluation in their specific field of training, i.e. patrol, tracking, narcotics or explosives.

5.   All attempts will be made to conduct canine training sessions on a weekly basis to maintain canine proficiency.  All training records and certification records will be forwarded to the Bureau of Training

D.   Public Relations Exhibitions

1.   Canine demonstrations and public exhibition requests will be directed to and coordinated by the canine unit commander, unless otherwise directed by the Sheriff, Colonel, or Major of Law Enforcement.

2.   Unauthorized exhibitions will not be conducted by Sheriff’s canine teams.

IX.   CANINES REQUIREMENTS

A.   Purchase of Police Canines

1.   The Training Sergeant will test all prospective canines for courage, obedience, motivational drive, retrieval drive and scent work, as well as bite.  The vendor will also have the canines medically cleared as to vaccination (up to date) and recent x-rays of hips.  The health records (including record of shots and x-rays) will accompany each canine upon delivery to the Sheriff’s Office.

2.   The dogs, upon receipt, will be assigned by the training sergeant to their designated handlers.

B.   Testing and Medical Clearance

1.   The canine unit training sergeant will test all acquired canines to ensure that they meet the standards of the Sheriff’s Office canine unit.  During this time, the veterinarian for the Sheriff’s canine unit will review the shot records, as well as x-rays provided for each canine.  The veterinarian will also complete a thorough medical examination of each canine.

2.   Any acquired canine that does not pass this testing or medical evaluation will be returned to the vendor for replacement.


C.   Retirement of Police Canines

1.   The Canine Unit Training Sergeant will evaluate active canines as to their work abilities and work life expectancy.

2.   Any health problems noted by the veterinarian should be documented concerning the canine’s work life expectancy.

3.   Upon completion of the combined evaluation, the findings will be conveyed to the Commanders for review.

D.   In the Line of Duty – (Injury or Wounds to Police Canine)

1.   Any canine wounded in the line of duty due to the violence act of another, rendering the canine non-functional for police work but adequate as a house pet at its handler’s home, will be retired on full disability, at no cost to the handler.

2.   All food and reasonable medical obligations for a canine retired under a line of duty, injury or wound disability will be paid for by the Sheriff’s Office.

3.   Full disability does not apply and will not be considered for a medical disability p


I hope this will help!!
Paul