Patrol Canine Guidelines - Putnam County Sheriff's Office PDF

**PUTNAM COUNTY** **SHERIFF'S OFFICE** **H. D. "GATOR" DELOACH, SHERIFF** +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | | **GENERAL | Effective | Sheriff's | Number: | | | ORDER** | Date: | Approval: | | |...

**PUTNAM COUNTY** **SHERIFF'S OFFICE** **H. D. "GATOR" DELOACH, SHERIFF** +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | | **GENERAL | Effective | Sheriff's | Number: | | | ORDER** | Date: | Approval: | | | | | | | 3340.00 | | | | 01/03/2017 | **Signature | | | | | | on File** | | | | | Rev. | | | | | | 12/24/2021 | | | +=============+=============+=============+=============+=============+ | | Subject: | | | | | | PATROL | | | | | | CANINES | | | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ | | Accreditati | | | | | | on | | | | | | Standards: | | | | | | CFA 14.11, | | | | | | 14.12 | | | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+ INDEXED AS: Bloodhounds Canine Use Guidelines Dog Handler Retirement of K-9 CONTENTS: I. DEFINITIONS VI\. PROHIBITED USES POLICY: It is the policy of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office to specify the circumstances in which canines are to be used in service to the public. The purpose of this directive is to establish guidelines for the supervision, operation, deployment, and retirement of the Sheriff's Office Canine Teams. I. DEFINITIONS A. Canine (K-9): A working class of dog which has been procured and specially trained to execute a number of specific tasks which make use of canine speed, agility and sense of smell. 1\. Full service (Patrol) canines have been trained in criminal apprehension, drug sniffs, evidence detection, tracking missing persons & subjects, and for promoting favorable public relations. 2\. Single purpose canines have been specifically trained in one discipline; however can be cross trained in multiple disciplines. Single purpose canines will not be utilized for criminal apprehensions. 3\. Bloodhound canines are specifically trained to scent discriminate and to track and trail for long periods of time. II\. ORGANIZATION III\. CANINE (K-9) USE GUIDELINES B. Deployment 2\. Tracking: (a canine is trained to utilize ground scent to follow a fleeing suspect.) a\. Tracking will begin as soon as possible to maintain a fresh, uncontaminated ground scent. b\. The handler may request the assistance of a deputy to follow the K-9 team. c\. The handler or an assisting deputy will provide location updates to the other units. d\. In the event the track is conducted in populated areas, the handler will keep the dog leashed or in a tracking harness. 3\. Apprehension: A handler may release a dog to prevent the escape when probable cause exists to believe a felony has been committed or there is a felony arrest warrant for that person. 4 Drug Detection: Some canines are specially trained to detect the presence of illegal drugs, i.e., marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. These canines may be deployed to check any structure, vehicle, boat, or aircraft within applicable legal requirements. The handler will not allow the dog to make direct physical contact with any loose or open containers of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, or any other powered substances. The handler will also make every attempt to keep the canine from damaging any structure, vehicle, boat, or aircraft while in the course of conducting drug detection work. IV\. BLOODHOUND USE GUIDELINES (CFA 14.11A) A. A bloodhound is the optimal choice when needing a canine to track missing or lost persons. B. Bloodhounds can be independently utilized to track suspects of a misdemeanor crime if there was no violence or threat of violence. C. A bloodhound may be utilized to track felony suspects or violent misdemeanors only when accompanied by a patrol canine team. A cover deputy, in addition to the patrol canine team, should be used when possible. D. When the need for a bloodhound arises, a scent article of the person to be tracked should be located but not disturbed by any person. The scent article should be shown to the handler and it will be the handler's responsibility to collect the item. E. The last known area of the person to be tracked should be protected to avoid contamination. No one will be permitted to enter this area unless approved by a supervisor. V. DEPUTY RESPONSIBILITIES (14.11C) A. Any deputy may request a K-9 team via his/her supervisor. K-9 teams should be called at the earliest possible time and, depending upon the nature of the situation, deputies should observe the following guidelines: a. Establish a perimeter to prevent contamination of the area or escape of the suspect(s). (The handler should be informed if the area has been contaminated.) b. Evaluate potential hazards that may impede the search or jeopardize the safety of the K-9 team or other deputies. c. Contact the owners of buildings to be searched to determine if anyone has permission to be inside, and to obtain keys and floor plans. d. Deputies, who assist with perimeter security during tracking or area searched, should remain inside their vehicles with the ignition off and noise kept to a minimum. (The K-9 team and an assisting deputy will be the only units allowed within the perimeter during the search.) 2\. Shut off the ignition; and 3\. Close all windows and doors. VI\. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES A. Sheriff's Office canines (K-9) will not be used to: 3\. Effect the arrest of a highly intoxicated person or a person who is unable to resist or escape. 4\. Effect the arrest of a known pregnant female. 5\. Breed or be used for stud purposes unless approved by the Sheriff in writing. VII\. BITE RESPONSE/USE OF FORCE B. Considerations a\. The severity of the crime. d\. The danger posed by the police canine to innocent persons. D. Use of Force: The use of a K-9 does not constitute the use of deadly force. Use of a Putnam County canine to apprehend or engage a suspect falls into the category of intermediate weapon as defined in the agency use of force matrix. However, a handler will exercise every possible means to apprehend a suspect without the person being bitten. A dog bite is a justifiable use of force when: 1\. The handler and/or dog are assaulted before or during an arrest. 2\. To prevent injury to a law enforcement officer or civilian. 3\. To stop an offender as described in section III. E. Medical Attention: The handler will seek immediate medical assistance for a bite victim. The Shift Commander or Sergeant will be notified as soon as possible and will respond to the scene to conduct a written investigation surrounding the bite to include, but not limited to, written statements and photographs. F. Documentation: The handler or Shift Commander or Sergeant will take photographs of the bite injury before and after medical treatment. The handler will complete a use of force report and document the details of the incident on an offense incident report. A copy of the report will be forwarded through the chain of command to the Director of Law Enforcement. The handler will provide health records and proof of vaccinations for the dog, upon request. VIII\. HANDLER SELECTION (CFA 14.11B) IX\. CANINE (K-9) SELECTION a. b. 4\. Excellent health and conditioning; and, X. HANDLER RESPONSIBILITIES (CFA14.11C) B. Canine Care: Handlers are allotted one (01) hour per day to provide for the care of the canine at the handler's residence. These duties and responsibilities include: 1. Feeding: canines will be fed once per day and the feedings should occur at the same time each day. The dog will not be fed immediately before the daily tour of duty, or while on duty. Canines will not be permitted to work until a minimum of two hours has expired after feeding to avoid gastric torsion. Fresh water will be available at all times. 2. Grooming: The canine's coat will be brushed and combed as needed. Nails will be kept closely clipped. The canine will be bathed and flea/tick spray applied as needed. 3. Shelter and Sanitation: Handlers will provide the canine with shelter that allows for a high standard of heath and conditioning. A handler may board the canine at another handler's residence with authorization from the Director of Law Enforcement. 4. Medical Care: Handlers are responsible for ensuring their assigned canine receives proper medical care. Veterinarian care, except in emergency cases, will be conducted on duty at agency expense. The handler will perform all treatments prescribed by the veterinarian. a. The handler will notify the Director of Law Enforcement of any symptoms of ill health with the canine. b. A veterinarian, designated by the Director of Law Enforcement, will be consulted if emergency treatment is required. c. Bills for veterinary services will be submitted to the agency finance section via the canine coordinator. C. Transportation: Handlers will transport canines in approved K-9 vehicles marked with caution warnings, and equipped with a cage and a heat sensor. However, canines may, on a temporary basis, be transported in any agency vehicle if the circumstances of a particular incident or operation warrant such transportation. Arrestees should not be transported in any vehicle in which a police canine is present. Each handler is responsible for the safety of the canine inside the vehicle and will adhere to the following safety precautions: D. In the event a K-9 handler is on leave for an extended period of time, the canine may be removed from the affected handler's residence and placed with another handler until he/she can return to duty. 1\. The canine that has been removed will receive periodic training to ensure the skills for patrol work are not lost. This training will be documented on the monthly training record which will be forwarded to the Chief of Patrol or his designee. XI\. REPORT WRITING A. Canine handlers are responsible for documenting all instances in which a police XII\. TRAINING XIII\. NARCOTIC TRAINING AIDS (CFA 14.12) A. Each K-9 handler will be issued a fresh supply of training narcotics each year. 1\. Type of drug in each package 2\. Quantity and/or weight of each package 3\. Results of the FDLE analysis 4\. Date and time issued to the handler 5\. Signature of both the K-9 handler and the evidence custodian XIV\. RETIREMENT OF CANINE (K-9) FROM ACTIVE DUTY \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ H. D. "Gator" DeLoach, Sheriff