NORTH PORT POLICE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE CANINE (K-9) 203.01 Effective Date: March 7, 2014 Revision Date: February 21, 2014 Rescinds: Section 135 I. PURPOSE The purpose of this section is to establish procedures and regulations governing the deployment, training, evaluation, care and use of police dogs in canine teams and define authority, circumstances and responsibility for their use. II. SCOPE This directive shall apply to all members of the North Port Police Department. III. DISCUSSION The trained law enforcement canine is a valuable supplement to police resources. The function of the canine unit is to provide a superior search capability while increasing safety and decreasing the time of search. IV. POLICY (CFA 17.02, 21.01) The use of properly trained dogs represents a highly cost efficient police tool by employing the canine's acute senses of smell and hearing for detection purposes, and for the psychological deterrence of their presence. Trained dogs also offer protection to the handler and accompanying law enforcement personnel in volatile and/or unknown situations. At the same time it must be remembered that canines, as a selective enforcement unit, cannot be expected to solve all crimes or eliminate all problems. Therefore, the policy of this department shall be to actively use K-9 dogs to aid in the detection of criminal activity and the apprehension of criminal violators as well as the recovery of lost or missing persons and items. Any use of a dog outside of these areas shall be with restraint and in the best interests of the Department and the City. V. PROCEDURES A. ORGANIZATION AND DUTIES 1. The K-9 Unit is an organizational subdivision of the School Resource Officer Supervisor (SRO) under the Administrative Bureau Commander. SRO Supervisors are responsible for K-9 teams operating on their respective shifts. All dogs will be purchased by the Department unless a handler assigned to the K-9 Unit seeks to purchase their own dog that meets the Department’s qualifications and only with the approval of the Chief of Police and contract with the City of North Port. 2. The Administrative Bureau Commander or designee is responsible for: Amends:  Ensuring that all handler and training equipment are in proper working condition, including replacement of any narcotics used in training. The department will provide access to a bite suit and other items useful to the unit for maintaining proficiency of the teams.  Ensuring that each team meets the required criteria for yearly FDLE state recertification.  Reviewing and forwarding applications to the Chief of Police and Canine Unit. 3. The SRO Supervisor or designee is responsible for:  Scheduling of all activities, including daily work schedules and training. Scheduling of special assignments and public relations assignments with the approval of the Administrative Bureau Commander. The SRO Supervisor will receive input from the Patrol and Detective supervisors concerning operations, as appropriate.  Coordinating all training for each team, ensuring proper documentation. Maintains all training records and paperwork relating to the Unit, including legal updates. Ensures that documentation is forwarded to the Training Section of the Administration Bureau for filing.  Completing performance evaluation of the team assigned to their respective shifts. 4. The Canine Unit consists of Canine Teams comprising of one (1) dog and one (1) handler per team. The team will normally patrol in modified specially equipped vehicles designated for canine patrol and clearly marked as canine vehicles. When not assigned to a specific detail, teams shall operate under the supervision of the SRO supervisor. The main duties of the canine teams are searching (buildings, areas – excluding the Passive Alert K9), tracking and the deterrence of crime. The use of police canines affords the police officer greater protection by using the dog's keen senses. When assigned to special details or functions, Canine teams shall be under the direction of the supervisor in charge of the special detail to which they are assigned. It shall be the responsibility of the handler to clearly explain to the shift supervisor any reservations he may have in using the dog. The shift supervisor or SRO Supervisor shall have the final decision on whether or not to use the dog. This determination will include input from the K-9 officer. a. use. This equipment should be kept in the team's vehicle for immediate use and care. Equipment provided to the handler includes but is not limited to:           The handler is also responsible for: 1. The health and welfare of their assigned dog, both on and off duty.      Any illness or injury of a non-emergency nature will be reported, in memo form, to the Administrative Commander. If it is determined that the dog should be taken to the departmental veterinarian, the handler will make the necessary arrangements. In an emergency situation, the handler will ensure that the dog receives immediate medical attention. The handler will submit a report concerning the emergency health problem and outcome. The handler is responsible for the safe administration of any medication as prescribed by the veterinarian. The handler will ensure that the dog is licensed in accordance with any and all local and state laws. The handler will ensure that the canine receives a physical examination semiannually. This will be monitored by the Business Manager. 2. Ordering food rations and equipment as needed forwarding all related bills to the Business Manager. 3. Coordinating all activities requiring the use of the designated veterinarian as set up by the Administrative Bureau Commander. In the event that the veterinarian is not available, another veterinarian or emergency clinic may be used and the regular veterinarian notified of the incident and results at a later time. 8. 1 - food dish 1 - water dish 1 - 6 foot lead 1 - tracking lead 1 - tracking harness 1 - choke chain 1 - leather agitation collar 1 - muzzle 1 - training sleeve 1 - brush Daily grooming and cleanliness of the dog. 9. Maintaining a log citing all uses of the dog in any action including, but not limited to, searches, tracks, demonstrations, scheduled public appearances. a. Handlers attending in-service training may bring the dog to work to facilitate call-out if needed. b. Handlers will not allow their assigned dog to be used for breeding purposes without written approval of the Chief of Police. c. The only canine demonstrations that a handler and assigned dog will be allowed to perform are those authorized by the department. d. The dog will be housed at the handler’s property and authorization must be received from the Administrative Commander for the handler to board the dog at any other location. e. The dog will be under the direct supervision of the assigned handler, and will not be allowed to roam at will in any area or be agitated unnecessarily by the handler. 4. Conducting regular in-service training on use of and coordination with canine teams as needed / requested for this agency or requesting agency upon approval of the Administrative Bureau Commander. f. The police vehicle used by the unit will be maintained in accordance with current directives and manufactures’ recommendations. The interior will be cleaned and disinfected regularly. 5. Authorizing the use of the canine for suspect apprehension. It is the responsibility of the handler to explain the canine's abilities to the requesting officer. 10. The on-duty SRO supervisor shall be responsible for the specific supervision of the K-9 Unit when on-duty and available. The team is operationally subordinate to the onduty shift supervisor. 6. Maintaining the health records and vaccination reports of the dog. By authorization of the Administrative Bureau Commander, these records and reports may be made available to health department authorities or bite victims. It shall be the handlers responsibility to forward a copy of the health records to the Business Manager. B. QUALIFICATIONS OF K-9 HANDLERS / CANINE 1. Canine’s selected for patrol / detection work for the North Port Police Department will be tested by a unit member designated by the Administrative Commander and will also have to pass a medical evaluation by the department veterinarian. 7. Maintaining all equipment issued to the team. Any miscellaneous equipment, such as leashes, collars, etc., shall be approved by the Administrative Commander prior to 2. Requirements for canine handlers: North Port Police Department S.O.P. #203.01 – CANINE Page 2 of 7 a. Only volunteers will be considered; b. The applicant’s residence must be capable of housing the canine and / or have adequate space for the construction of a kennel, since the officer will be required to keep the dog at his residence. In the event the officer does not own the property, the officer must obtain written permission from the property owner for housing the canine; c. Any officer selected for the position of canine handler will be required to remain in the unit for a minimum of five (5) years, with the exception of promotion; Shift supervisors will be prepared to articulate justification for such use of Canine teams when making zone or call assignments. c. On-duty canine teams shall respond to crimes in progress without specific dispatch and shall be primary back up to patrol officers in traffic stops, whenever practicable. d. The shift supervisors may establish the order of priority for team response to multiple calls. e. Department members will:  Heed the directions of the handler when a Canine Team is involved in a specific situation relating to an incident or investigation;  Not tease or harass the dog unless directed to do so by a handler in a training situation;  Not pet or attempt to pet the dog without the handler's permission. Approach the dog in a calm friendly manner;  Not feed the dog without the handler's permission. 3. An on-duty Canine Team should respond to: C. TRAINING OF CANINE TEAMS 1. Each team will receive a minimum of four (4) hours of canine training weekly. 2. Each team will receive annual FDLE Patrol certification. Attending the United States Police Canine Association (U.S.P.C.A.) or the North American Police Work Dog Association (N.A.P.W.D.A.) will depend upon the training budget and administration approval. This certification/training will include narcotic detection. Any K-9 team failing to pass any area of certification after a second attempt will not be allowed to operate within the confines of that area until it obtains certification and remediation. During remediation, the officer will be taken off patrol for two weeks of refresher retraining. Remedial training will consist of reintroduction to all narcotic scents and address problem areas of failed narcotics certification. D. LAW ENFORCEMENT CANINE APPLICATIONS (CFA 17.02, 17.11, 21.01) 1. General uses for the canine team:  Protect officers or citizens from serious harm or death  Assist in the pursuit, apprehension or prevent the escape of a person reasonably believed to have committed a crime.  Building, vehicle, and area search for felons or violent suspects, illegal drugs, lost or abandoned articles or implements of a crime.  Tracking of suspects or lost / missing persons.  Assist officers with crowd control in a civil disturbance.  Public relations demonstrations. 2. Deployment and Use a. Canine Teams shall be deployed at times and locations that provide optimal response throughout the City of North Port. a. All burglary in progress calls, intrusion and / or robbery alarms in progress or just occurred. b. All crimes where the suspect has fled on foot and a possible track could develop. c. The Passive Alert K-9 will be deployed in the schools and will assist road patrol with vehicle searches as well as tracking according to policy. d. The Passive Alert K-9 can be utilized to search along roadways for drugs or items of evidentiary nature (only on a leash length no longer then 20 feet due to safety concerns). e. Only the dual purpose K-9s will respond to search alarms or open door / window calls. The canine team will be the primary building search unit. f. Dual purpose K-9s should respond to all major disturbances, large crowds or parties where the canine team could stand by should an unruly situation develop. g. All K-9 Teams will respond to missing children / elderly person calls. h. Traffic stops in which K-9 is requested. i. Any other call where the supervisor believes that the canine team would be an asset as a backup or primary unit. b. In order for the canine program to function 4. If a Canine Team is not on duty the supervisor on properly, teams should not normally be assigned a zone or duty may consider calling out a canine unit for the situations calls which may generate lengthy report writing and detain enumerated above. A North Port Police Department the teams from road patrol functions unless absolutely Canine Team will be called out before a canine unit from necessary. When calls for service are backlogged, teams another agency is requested. However, for traffic stops, due may be assigned calls to ease the load of patrol officers. North Port Police Department S.O.P. #203.01 – CANINE Page 3 of 7 to time restraints on vehicle searches, supervisor may contact neighboring jurisdiction on duty K-9 prior to contacting an off duty NPPD K-9. 5. When requested to apply a Canine team to a specific problem, the handler shall first evaluate the situation to determine if, in fact, the use of the Canine Team is feasible. In those cases the decision is made not to use the canine, the handler will be available to give other assistance. a. The decision to apply the Canine Team to a specific police operation is the responsibility of the on-scene supervisor after conferring with the handler. b. All mutual aid requests should be coordinated and approved through the on-duty shift commander who will advise the Chief of Police as soon as possible of the situation. Subsequent to review of the situation, the decision to actually use the canine to a specific operation will remain with the handler. c. Canine Teams will not be used to transport. A handler making an arrest will request a second unit for the purpose of transporting any prisoner(s). E. PASSIVE ALERT K-9 1. The Passive Alert K-9 will not be used to search people; however, while walking through the hallways at the school on a free leash (loose leash) and the K-9 shows interest in a specific person (possibly give a positive alert on that person or student) the handler will bring it to the attention of the school staff and they shall take control of the situation. 2. The Passive Alert K-9 can track for criminal violations with approval of the on-scene supervisor. The Passive Alert K-9 can be utilized for natural or man-made (terrorist) disasters (locating a lost or injured subject). Two back-up officers are required for all tracking situations. F. METHODS OF CANINE OPERATION 1. Searches (for items and persons) - The handler is in charge of scenes to be searched for the placement of perimeter security and entrance into the area to be searched until the canine search is ended and clear. Officers should refrain from entering any area which the canine might subsequently search in order to avoid scene contamination. If the area has been contaminated, officers on the scene should advise the handler of the contamination and location so that he can make allowances for it in the search. a. During searches a perimeter should be established by Patrol units. This will help contain or lead to the apprehension of a fleeing suspect. During area searches the perimeter may be mobile, fluctuating as the search continues. c. If possible, the owner of the building should be contacted in order to determine if anyone is possibly working late. The owner may also allow the handler easier access by unlocking main entrances. d. The handler will give a loud verbal warning toward the building to be searched announcing the presence of the police and canine and that the canine will enter the building to locate and apprehend anyone inside. Adequate time will be allowed for a response to the warning. A second warning will be given, again allowing adequate time for a response from within. During the second warning, the handler will announce that all remaining occupants of the building are under arrest. The dog will then be released into the building. e. When the team is to search an unconfined area, the warnings will be given as noted above. The handler will maintain control of his K-9 at all times, either by the utilization of a leash or voice command. f. With the sole exception of a patrol officer requested by the handler to accompany the team on the search in order to provide additional cover for the team, no one will be allowed into the building during the canine team's search of the building. This also applies to area searches. g. The handler will repeat the warning on each floor or section of the building or area prior to allowing the dog inside. h. The handler will advise units outside the building or area of his location as he moves within the building or area. i. Upon surrender of the suspect the canine will be contained by or recalled to the handler. 2. School Narcotic Searches a. The Passive Alert K-9 handler shall contact the School Resource Officer at the school that they intend to search. Together, they will formulate an appropriate plan of action for that day/time. If an alert is given, they will contact the school administrative staff for further investigation. This staff member shall be present during the initial search of school or personal property. School personnel conducts the search, the agency assists. 3. Apprehension - The use of canines for the purpose of apprehending a suspect is classified as a Response to Resistance. Handlers will always use good judgment when the possibility of injury to a suspect exists, considering the circumstances of this case and any past involvement with law enforcement on the part of the suspect. a. Canines will not be used in a bite situation for any summary offense, such as a suspect refusing to cooperate after being secured in restraints. b. Patrol units should not search buildings, regardless of how minor the situation if there is a canine team available b. In any instance where the handler encourages the to perform the search. canine to take an unjustified bite on any person or takes part North Port Police Department S.O.P. #203.01 – CANINE Page 4 of 7 in any activity in violation of this Section or any other appropriate departmental order, that handler will be subject to proper departmental disciplinary action and / or elimination from the canine program. He may also be held criminally liable. c. Use of a police dog in apprehension of a suspect is an intermediate weapon in the Response to Resistance. Handlers will be able to articulate the level of resistance of the suspect and why they felt that the use of the dog was necessary. Use of the dog will be explained by the handler in writing. Whenever a police canine bites any person (suspect, citizen or officer):      The handler will notify the SRO and on duty supervisors immediately after the situation is under control. The handler shall ensure that proper medical treatment is received by the person who was bitten. All injuries shall be examined by the handler and on-duty Patrol supervisor. All injuries will be photographed twice (in color) regardless of the suspected nature of the injury. One copy will be placed in evidence and the other will be routed to the Administrative Bureau Commander. Victims of a police dog bite shall be afforded medical treatment as soon as possible. The injuries will be carefully documented in writing on a Response to Resistance form and submitted with a copy of the incident report. It is the responsibility of the on-duty Patrol supervisor to submit these documents to the Administrative Bureau Commander for review. The District Commander will submit his findings and recommendations to the Administrative Bureau Commander in order to determine justification of Response to Resistance. 4. Tracking - The use of Canine Teams to track and search for missing or endangered persons, or suspects makes use of the dog's naturally sensitive sense of smell and can aid in the quick conclusion of a search. a. A K-9 may be used to track any subject/suspect who flees an area on foot. If the subject/suspect is located by the K-9, the handler should follow the apprehension section A, K-9 should never be used to apprehend a subject/suspect who is being compliant. b. During tracking exercises, the perimeter will be secured by patrol units while the Canine Team proceeds with the track. The handler or assisting officer will keep the perimeter units updated concerning his location and direction by radio in order to allow the perimeter units to move accordingly in an effort to keep the perimeter secure. c. Patrol units should not enter the perimeter area on foot, because this will cause contamination of the search area, confusing the dog, lengthening the search thus endangering the victim or allowing a suspect greater opportunity for escape. If a patrol unit should enter the containment field, this information needs to be passed to the canine team as soon as possible so that the handler can judge the dog's reactions accordingly. The patrol unit should have exited the area before the arrival of the canine team in order to minimize the dog's confusion. d. Tracking will be done with the handler having positive physical control of the dog by having the dog on a leash. 5. Crowd control - The Canine Team may be used for assisting officers in crowd control or in civil disturbances. The handler will use a leash, and assigned harness in combination with “dead ring” choke collar, and positive physical control of the dog at all times in a crowd control situation. Limitations on the use of a police dog in crowd control are the same as those in apprehension. 6. Public relations exhibitions a. Requests for demonstrations will be routed to the Administrative Bureau Commander. All requests will be made with ample time allowed to ensure that a Canine team will be available. b. Demonstrations may be given at any location; however the Administrative Commander will have final determination regarding the site chosen. c. Unauthorized exhibitions of attack activities shall not be conducted by the Teams. G. DUTIES OF PATROL OFFICERS In order to achieve maximum effective use of the canine teams, patrol officers should: 1. Maintain a perimeter of any area or building to be searched by a canine team. Patrol units should be moved in coordination with the team's track; 2. Avoid contaminating the search area prior to the completion of the canine's search; 3. Make the handler aware of any contamination of a scene to be searched by the canine team; 4. Ensure the removal of all people known to be in the search area prior to the start of the search; 5. Be prepared to accompany the handler and provide backup protection to the team during a search or track; 6. Not interfere with the training phases of any team; 7. Not reach into the canine vehicle while the dog is inside; 8. Not agitate the dog; North Port Police Department S.O.P. #203.01 – CANINE Page 5 of 7 9. Not approach the dog without the handler's permission. H. EMERGENCY HANDLING OF POLICE DOGS In the event that a handler is injured or otherwise unavailable, the control of the dog must be regained and / or maintained. The shift commander is to be notified. 1. Only under extreme or exigent circumstances, to protect the safety of officers or innocent bystanders, will the dog be shot or injured. This act can only be executed with supervisor approval. Animal Services should try to tranquilize the K-9 first. 2. Keep the public clear of the area, and remove unneeded members from the scene. 3. Any attempt to handle the dog should be done only by another handler or someone with experience in handling a police canine. 4. If the dog is confined: a. Maintain confinement b. Attempt to get a household member of the handler to the scene, preferably the spouse. c. The household member will gain control of the dog and take custody of the dog. d. If a household member is unavailable, have the nearest canine handler respond. If no North Port handler is available, a Sheriff’s Canine Unit may be requested. The handler can remove the dog so that the vehicle can be moved from the scene. 5. If the dog is loose: a. Attempt to confine the dog within a cordon of officers or fenced area. b. Attempt to get a household member of the handler to the scene, preferably the spouse. c. The household member will gain control of the dog and take custody of the dog. d. If a household member is unavailable, have the nearest canine handler respond. If no North Port handler is available, a Sheriff’s Canine Unit may be requested. The handler can remove the dog. 6. If no household member or handler is available, or under extreme circumstances, another department member may attempt to gain control of the dog, with permission of the SRO supervisor. 7. The dog is to be brought to the handler's residence. If this is not possible, the dog will be brought to the station and placed in the kennel facility in the impound area until the dog can be brought to the residence. 8. When all other circumstances fail, and a potential hazard exists, a veterinarian or certified Animal Services should be contacted to tranquilize the dog. No attempt will be made to tranquilize a dog confined in the canine vehicle. I. OBTAINING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES FOR CANINE TRAINING (CFA 17.12) The Canine Unit officers may obtain quantities of contraband drugs for use by canine teams in training the dogs to search for the drugs. 1. Obtaining training drugs from Property/Evidence, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), DEA, or SSO; a. Requests for training drugs and replacement drugs should be made by the Canine Officer through the proper chain of command to the Administrative Bureau Commander and Chief of Police for approval. When new training drugs are issued to the Canine Officer, the old drugs are to be turned in to a Criminalistics Specialist by the Canine Officer, weighed, presumptive tested, and stored for disposal. Allowance will be made, but noted, for a small difference in issue and retrieval weight due to handling. The Canine Officer and either the Criminalistics Specialist or a supervisor will sign the property form acknowledging the quantities and types of drugs being issued and turned in. The Canine Supervisor and a handler will place the drugs in storage making an appropriate log entry. b. The Canine trainer will make an appointment with FDLE, DEA, Property/Evidence or other agency. c. The Canine trainer will provide a copy of the destruction order for the previously issued training drugs and the necessary completed forms to any agency the training drugs are received from. d. Upon receiving issuance of new training drugs they will be brought to Criminalistics where they will be weighed and logged. e. Newly obtained training drugs will be reissued by Criminalistics personnel to the Canine trainer for training use, which will include weighing and presumptive testing. f. Training drugs will be properly stored and secured in the Canine safe/lock box. 4. The training drugs, when not in use, shall be secured by and be the sole responsibility of the Canine officer to which the drugs were signed out to. A check in/out log shall be maintained by the Canine handler. 5. If an item is compromised or destroyed during training or at demonstration the handler must immediately notify the SRO supervisor via memorandum. This item(s) are not to be used until approved by the Special Operations supervisor and after repackaging, re-weighing, and subsequent re-auditing is conducted. North Port Police Department S.O.P. #203.01 – CANINE Page 6 of 7 6. Drugs checked out for training are the handler’s responsibility. vehicles. There is no security cage and the arrestee may not be safe in the car with the dog. 7. The Administrative Commander or designee will conduct an unannounced annual audit of all training drugs. K. DISPOSITION OF CANINE Recommendations to retire a canine for cause will be made through the chain of command. Upon approval of the recommendation by the Chief of Police, the canine may be retired to the care of the handler. The handler may be required to purchase the canine at a cost determined by the Chief of Police. In cases where a handler leaves the K-9 Unit, the canine will remain the property of the Department. If the canine is determined to be suitable for reassignment to a new handler, it shall be retained within the unit. If the canine is determined unsuitable for reassignment, the canine shall be made available for purchase to the departing member if so desired. In any such case that a purchase is declined, the canine shall be disposed of in a manner deemed appropriate by the Department. J. CANINE (K-9) VEHICLES (CFA 17.02) Canine Units use modified patrol cars for transporting the teams. The vehicle will carry the applicable equipment found in regular patrol cars. Teams may carry their training gear and refreshments for the dog in the vehicle. Handlers will report any maintenance deficiencies to the motor pool liaison. 1. Additional equipment a. Heat sensor - The heat sensor provides an alarm capability if the interior of the vehicle gets too hot for the dog. If the interior temperature reaches a preset level, a thermostat turns on the vehicle’s siren in order to alert the handler. b. Automatic door release - The door release is an electronic device similar to a garage door opener which will open the rear door of the car allowing the dog to get out. It can be activated from inside the car on the control panel or by a remote radio activating device usually on the handler’s gun belt. (With the exception of Passive Alert K-9) c. Window tinting - The rear deck and rear door windows are tinted to a much darker shade than normal in order to assist in keeping the vehicle cool. This can cause significantly decreased vision to the sides and rear especially in low light or no light situations. Members must remember this when backing, turning or changing lanes. ______________ Approval Date _____________________________________ Kevin Vespia Chief of Police d. The cage - The cage for the dog inhibits vision even more than the security cage in a regular patrol car. This increases the loss of vision and requires the member to exercise care when backing, turning or changing lanes. 2. Use - The canine vehicle is used exclusively by the canine team. Arrestees will not be transported in canine North Port Police Department S.O.P. #203.01 – CANINE Page 7 of 7