NARCOTIC DETECTION STANDARDS A canine team must consist of a commissioned law enforcement officer, working a canine for a law enforcement agency, with the responsibilities and duties of locating narcotics. OR A private security firm with the responsibilities and duties of locating narcotics that is in possession of a current DEA license. A copy of the current DEA license must be presented each time a team is to certify. The certification is not valid unless a current DEA license is on file with the NNDDA. OR A commissioned part time or reserve officer with responsibilities and duties of locating narcotics for their department with a written letter of endorsement by the head administrator. A updated letter must be presented each time the team certify. The certification is not valid unless a current letter is on file with the NNDDA. OR A member of the Armed Forces, HLS, or DOJ with the responsibilities and duties of locating narcotics for their department with a written letter of endorsement by the head administrator. A updated letter must be presented each time the team certify. The certification is not valid unless a current letter is on file with the NNDDA. This test will determine the proficiency and reliability of a canine team in the detection of narcotics. No canine team will be dual certified in Narcotics and Explosives by the NNDDA TYPE OF NARCOTICS TO BE USED FOR CERTIFICATION All K-9's must find marijuana and cocaine to certify. Other narcotics are optional to certify on. There will be two (2) stashes of each narcotic in each given area. QUANTITIES OF NARCOTIC TO BE USED FOR CERTIFICATION Cocaine Minimum amount to be used ten (10) grams per stash Maximum amount to be used twenty-eight (28) grams per stash Marijuana Minimum amount to be used one fourth (1/4) ounce per stash Maximum amount to be used two (2) ounces per stash Optional narcotics may be, but not limited to Heroin, Methamphetamine, or Opium. For these optional narcotics the quantities will stay within the limits for Cocaine. EXAMPLE: A certifying official may hide one (1) stash with ten (10) grams and the second stash must weigh a minimum often (10) grams and up to a maximum of twenty-eight (28) grams. It is the official’s decision on how much each of the stashes will contain, as long as he or she remains within the minimum and maximum amounts set out in the certification standards. ALERTS Each handler is responsible for notifying the judges of the type of alert (aggressive or passive), the judges can expect. There will be only one (1) negative response allowed. The handler will be notified of positive or negative response. TIME There will be three (3) minutes for each drug search area, once the tree minutes is called the search of that area is over. SEARCH AREA The area shall be of indoor nature (building), this area shall be no larger than one thousand (1000) square feet. Inside this area there shall be a section for each narcotic. EXAMPLE: If a K-9 team is going to certify on four (4) narcotics, there will be four (4) sections, each one containing the respective narcotic. REWARDS There will be no narcotic contaminated rewards during certification. EXAMPLE: A K-9 team is in the certification area, the K9 gives a positive alert, the handler rewards the K-9 with only a non-narcotic contaminated reward. A contaminated reward might be a ball or towel scented with marijuana, cocaine, heroin or any other narcotic. CERTIFICATION Certification is valid for one calendar year. There will be a thirty days waiting period to attempt to certify again if you fail certification. RULING OF CERTIFYING OFFICIALS All rulings by the certifying officials are finial. CERTIFYING OFFICIALS Either a NNDDA Judge, Board of Director, Regional Certifying Official or Regional Representative may certify a K-9 team. There may be more than one (1) of these officials at any certification but only one (1) is required for certification. FEES FOR CERTIFICATION The fee for certification is twenty-five (25) dollars for each team attempting to certify. CANINE PROGRAM VALIDATION/CERTIFICATION NNDDA will certify canine teams to a federal, state, or department standard. The team must submit a copy of the standard to the certifying official who must approve the standard prior to certifying the team. The standard must meet or exceed NNDDA Standards. The certifying official will attach a copy of the standard to the yellow certification sheet and retain it for future courtroom testimony. The certification will assist in validating other agencies' standards. TO BECOME A CERTIFYING OFFICIAL IN NARCOTICS To be eligible to be a certifying official, one MUST be a full time paid law enforcement officer, or corrections officer either local, state, federal. An applicant can not be in the business of selling police dogs. These two requirements will not be waived. A certifying official retains their certifying official status when they retire from law enforcement. If you meet the above requirements there are several ways to be considered for an interview. An applicant must be a current member in good standing with NNDDA for the last three (3) years. Proof of certifications and/or expertise must add up to three years of experience in the selected field. An applicant should show a need for a certifying official in this area, have written endorsement from a senior (4 year) narcotic dog certification official with the NNDDA. An Applicant may produce written proof of three years of expertise with written endorsement from senior (4 year) narcotic dog certification officials of the NNDDA, or NNDDA Board Member. Applicant must produce written support from his or her agency. Applicant will request a certifying official packet from the Secretary of the NNDDA. Applicant will complete the packet and return it to the Secretary of the NNDDA. All information submitted will be validated by the NNDDA Board of Directors. The Board will notify the applicant of the results. Applicant must pass a formal interview with the NNDDA Board. The Board will determine which seminar/certification the applicant must attend to work with a senior certifying official(s). That certifying official(s) will make a written recommendation to complete the process. Certifying Officials must have access to equipment and training aids to conduct this certification. Each certifying official must ensure that they possess a current copy of NNDDA Certification Standards and certify to that standard. A CERTIFYING OFFICIAL MAY NOT CERTIFY A DOG HE/SHE HAS TRAINED THE FIRST TIME THE DOG TEAMS CERTIFY A Certifying Official may be removed from certifying official status by a majority vote by the Board of Directors.