K9 Operations K9 Operations for Patrolfor Patrol

CapabilitiesCapabilities

ObjectivesObjectives

Give each officer a working knowledge of Give each officer a working knowledge of the various uses of a Police Dog.the various uses of a Police Dog.

Realize the limitations and capitalize on Realize the limitations and capitalize on abilities of a Police Dog.abilities of a Police Dog.

Patrol Officer will be able to assist in Patrol Officer will be able to assist in maximizing the usefulness.maximizing the usefulness.

Topics of discussionTopics of discussion

Building SearchBuilding Search

Area Search/ Area Search/ Perimeters Perimeters

Tracking / Cover Tracking / Cover OfficerOfficer

K9 ApprehensionsK9 Apprehensions

Evidence RecoveryEvidence Recovery

Riot / Crowd ControlRiot / Crowd Control

Drug Sniff’sDrug Sniff’s

PursuitsPursuits

Report writingReport writing

Safety around K9Safety around K9

TASERSTASERS

Building SearchBuilding Search

Establish perimeterEstablish perimeterRadio for K9 search of buildingRadio for K9 search of building

Searches faster and reduces risks to officersSearches faster and reduces risks to officers Can locate subject behind locked doors, ceilings, etc.Can locate subject behind locked doors, ceilings, etc.

Don’t allow entry into building during search, including Don’t allow entry into building during search, including owner/key holder.owner/key holder.Time is on our side – longer subject is hiding, the more Time is on our side – longer subject is hiding, the more odor emanating. odor emanating. At least one cover officer should be assisting.At least one cover officer should be assisting.K9 announcement needs to be made before and K9 announcement needs to be made before and throughout the search.throughout the search.Loud speaker might be helpful (i.e. squad, helicopter).Loud speaker might be helpful (i.e. squad, helicopter).

Area Search / PerimetersArea Search / Perimeters

Point of entry unknown / no track found.Point of entry unknown / no track found.Do not pursue unless sure of catching subject.Do not pursue unless sure of catching subject.Establish a tight perimeter.Establish a tight perimeter.Radio for K9 assist.Radio for K9 assist.Dog can locate a subject hiding in weeds, under Dog can locate a subject hiding in weeds, under deck, etc.deck, etc.Wind / weather might determine start point.Wind / weather might determine start point.K9 announcement needs to be made before and K9 announcement needs to be made before and throughout the search.throughout the search.Loud speaker might be helpful (i.e. squad, Loud speaker might be helpful (i.e. squad, helicopter).helicopter).

PerimetersPerimeters

Goal of perimeters is to contain the subject, let Goal of perimeters is to contain the subject, let K9 work.K9 work.A quickly set and secure perimeter should force A quickly set and secure perimeter should force subject to “lay down” or hide. subject to “lay down” or hide. Don’t make the perimeter too small, easier to Don’t make the perimeter too small, easier to tighten up a perimeter than expand it.tighten up a perimeter than expand it.All officers / handler will be on one radio All officers / handler will be on one radio channel.channel.Keep radio traffic to a minimum. Keep radio traffic to a minimum. Mutual aid might be needed, supervisor’s Mutual aid might be needed, supervisor’s decision.decision.

PerimetersPerimeters

All emergency and white lights should be All emergency and white lights should be on, not darked out.on, not darked out.Try not to distract K9, shining lights, Try not to distract K9, shining lights, driving around.driving around.Stay in squad, don’t contaminate area. Stay in squad, don’t contaminate area. Supervisor or perimeter officer should Supervisor or perimeter officer should coordinate air unit, if used.coordinate air unit, if used.Supervisor / handler will decide how long Supervisor / handler will decide how long to hold a perimeter.to hold a perimeter.

TrackingTracking

K9 will search for a human scent / altered K9 will search for a human scent / altered ground and begin tracking.ground and begin tracking.Direct handler to the last place suspect was Direct handler to the last place suspect was seen.seen.Don’t pursue unless sure of capture.Don’t pursue unless sure of capture.Handler might track on lead or off lead.Handler might track on lead or off lead.Article from suspect / missing person is helpful, Article from suspect / missing person is helpful, but not necessary.but not necessary.Weather plays a big role in tracking, refer to Weather plays a big role in tracking, refer to handler for specifics.handler for specifics.

Cover OfficerCover Officer

Stay about 15-20’ back.Stay about 15-20’ back.Don’t focus too much on K9, look to other areas Don’t focus too much on K9, look to other areas to cover.to cover.Don’t get a head of K9 teamDon’t get a head of K9 team Opening doors.Opening doors. Moving in front of dog.Moving in front of dog.

Be tactical, light and noise discipline. Be tactical, light and noise discipline. When directed by handler move into cuff subject.When directed by handler move into cuff subject.Search with long gun, if searching for dangerous Search with long gun, if searching for dangerous subject.subject.

Evidence RecoveryEvidence Recovery

Dog will close in on human scent left on article.Dog will close in on human scent left on article.

Can be used to findCan be used to find Gun, money bag, keys, etc.Gun, money bag, keys, etc.

K9 Alert – Varies by K9K9 Alert – Varies by K9 Passive alert – K9 lay’s on ground next to articlePassive alert – K9 lay’s on ground next to article Aggressive alert – K9 retrieves articleAggressive alert – K9 retrieves article

Call K9 first, don’t contaminate area.Call K9 first, don’t contaminate area.

K9 Request needs to be timely.K9 Request needs to be timely.

K9 ApprehensionsK9 Apprehensions

Dept Policy: This apprehension refers to a Dept Policy: This apprehension refers to a canine officer intentionally releasing or canine officer intentionally releasing or directing a canine to apprehend a suspect directing a canine to apprehend a suspect who the officer believes has committed or who the officer believes has committed or is about to commit a is about to commit a felonyfelony or or violent violent misdemeanormisdemeanor criminal act, or to criminal act, or to apprehend a mentally ill or mentally apprehend a mentally ill or mentally defective person to defective person to prevent self-injury or prevent self-injury or injury to anotherinjury to another..

K9 ApprehensionsK9 Apprehensions

Let the handler and K9 do their job.Let the handler and K9 do their job.

Don’t encourage K9.Don’t encourage K9.

Don’t run in the area when K9 is released Don’t run in the area when K9 is released for apprehension.for apprehension.

The cover officer in most cases will need The cover officer in most cases will need to handcuff/secure the subject.to handcuff/secure the subject.

Don’t move to subject until directed by Don’t move to subject until directed by handler.handler.

Riot / Crowd ControlRiot / Crowd Control

Use of K9 to move a crowd is only Use of K9 to move a crowd is only authorized if used in a defensive action.authorized if used in a defensive action. Effect a rescue of person from a violent Effect a rescue of person from a violent

crowd.crowd.

Use of a K9 at the scene of a disturbance Use of a K9 at the scene of a disturbance where there a handful of people does not where there a handful of people does not constitute crowd control, if utilized for constitute crowd control, if utilized for officer safety and not to move a crowd.officer safety and not to move a crowd.

Drug Sniff’sDrug Sniff’s

Drug Sniff’sDrug Sniff’s

Use of a canine to locate narcotic odor is a sniff, Use of a canine to locate narcotic odor is a sniff, not a search.not a search.Don’t search if K9 is to be used (contamination).Don’t search if K9 is to be used (contamination).Advise handler of any narcotics found or Advise handler of any narcotics found or hazards seen.hazards seen.Move / keep subjects out of sight when K9 is Move / keep subjects out of sight when K9 is working.working.Remove any animals from the area.Remove any animals from the area.Refer to handler for legal updates, if unsure.Refer to handler for legal updates, if unsure.K9 alert is Probable CauseK9 alert is Probable Cause

Cash Sniff’sCash Sniff’s

Cash in circulation might have trace drug Cash in circulation might have trace drug residue, but a K9 is trained to find drug residue, but a K9 is trained to find drug odor, not residue.odor, not residue.

K9 teams must train for cash sniff’s.K9 teams must train for cash sniff’s.

Officers should be careful not to Officers should be careful not to contaminate cash prior to sniff (i.e. store or contaminate cash prior to sniff (i.e. store or transport with drugs).transport with drugs).

PursuitsPursuits

K9 unit should move to the front of pursuit to K9 unit should move to the front of pursuit to prepare if the suspect(s) bail from vehicle.prepare if the suspect(s) bail from vehicle.Non-K9 squad should conduct radio traffic, if Non-K9 squad should conduct radio traffic, if possible. (difficult to hear with K9)possible. (difficult to hear with K9)Radio – announce there is a K9 in pursuit so Radio – announce there is a K9 in pursuit so responding officers are aware.responding officers are aware.Handler will remove K9 and search, usually off-Handler will remove K9 and search, usually off-lead if a suspect bails.lead if a suspect bails.Handler will refer to policy to determine if K9 will Handler will refer to policy to determine if K9 will be used.be used.

Felony StopsFelony Stops

K9 can be used to clear vehicle after all K9 can be used to clear vehicle after all compliant occupants have been called out and compliant occupants have been called out and secured.secured.

Officer calling people out of vehicle should have Officer calling people out of vehicle should have the last person out, leave one door open.the last person out, leave one door open.

K9 announcement should be made, if no K9 announcement should be made, if no response, then K9 can search.response, then K9 can search.

Handler will direct K9 to approach, enter and Handler will direct K9 to approach, enter and search vehicle for hidden persons.search vehicle for hidden persons.

Report Writing / DocumentationReport Writing / Documentation

Handler will document K9 specific Handler will document K9 specific information.information.

Don’t try to interpret / write about what K9 Don’t try to interpret / write about what K9 was doing or indicating, leave that to was doing or indicating, leave that to handler.handler.

Photographs of injuries to suspects, Photographs of injuries to suspects, officers and K9.officers and K9.

Safety around CanineSafety around Canine

Don’t run around K9.Don’t run around K9.

Dog’s are animals…they chase as a part Dog’s are animals…they chase as a part of instinct and training.of instinct and training.

Don’t give any commands to K9, this is the Don’t give any commands to K9, this is the handlers job.handlers job.

If challenged by K9, stop the behavior that If challenged by K9, stop the behavior that initiated aggression.initiated aggression.

TASER’S & K9TASER’S & K9

An inadvertent shock to K9 will be An inadvertent shock to K9 will be detrimentaldetrimental

Handler should be told prior to Handler should be told prior to deployment, if feasible.deployment, if feasible.

Taser operator might have to move close Taser operator might have to move close to subject to deliver “drive stun” with Taser to subject to deliver “drive stun” with Taser to avoid accidental discharge into K9.to avoid accidental discharge into K9.

Handler injuredHandler injured

There might be another officer / K9 There might be another officer / K9 handler that is familiar with dog that can handler that is familiar with dog that can be called.be called.

If not, approach dog with confidence and If not, approach dog with confidence and escort with purpose.escort with purpose.

Squad door can opened and the K9 called Squad door can opened and the K9 called over.over.