Lakewood Police Department
Policy and Procedure
K-9 Program 		Effective Date: 12/4/2015
Policy Number: PP-9400 - K-9 Program

A. Policy 

 The K-9 program was established to augment law enforcement services to the community.  Highly skilled and trained teams of handlers and K-9s are used to supplement law enforcement operations to locate individuals and contraband and to apprehend criminal offenders.

 B. Procedure

 1. General

a. The deployment of a Lakewood K-9 by its handler in the performance of his duties may, depending upon the circumstances, be considered a use of force.  When Lakewood Police K-9s are utilized to neutralize an assault, overcome resistance of suspects or arrestees in the defense of police personnel or another person, or to locate and apprehend a suspect attempting to elude capture, the use of physical force policy shall apply.

b. When deciding whether to deploy a canine, the handler should determine whether its use is objectively reasonable.  Each situation should be evaluated in light of the facts and circumstances involved, including, but not limited to the following criteria:

 i. The severity of the crime involved:
ii. Whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of police or citizens; and
iii. Whether the suspect is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight.

c. Prior to the use of the canine to search for or apprehend any individual, the canine handler and/or the supervisor on scene shall carefully consider other pertinent information reasonably available at the time.  The information should include, but is not limited to:

 i. The individual’s perceived age.
 ii. The nature of the suspected offense.
iii. Any potential danger to the public and/or other officers at the scene if the canine is released.
iv. Any unnecessary risk to the safety of the canine.
v. The degree of resistance or threatened resistance the subject has shown.
vi. The individual is believed to be concealed in an area where entry by other than the K-9 would pose a threat to the safety of officers or the public.
 
d. Lakewood Police K-9 handlers are authorized a take-home police unit.  The unit is to be used for trips to and from work.  K-9 training, trips to the veterinarian, and other job-related activities that have been approved by their supervisor.  The K-9 agents are responsible for the condition and maintenance of the vehicle for which they have been assigned.

e. A Lakewood Police K-9 team shall consist of a trained K-9 handler and a certified police K-9.

f. Department personnel are encouraged to request assistance of a K-9 Team in the following circumstances:

 i. Building searches
 ii. Tracking suspects
 iii. Clearing of open areas
 iv. Evidence searches
 v. Lost persons (limited application:  See Rule 5)
 vi. Crowd control (limited application:  See Rule 4)

g. Department personnel may request the assistance of a K-9 Team via Communications Section, subject to review by a sworn supervisor.

h. Other law enforcement agencies may request the assistance of a Lakewood K-9 Team.  The request must be approved by a Lakewood sworn supervisor.

i. Arrests made or evidence located as a result of the K-9 Team assisting shall be considered to have been accomplished by the requesting agent.

j. K-9 handlers shall be responsible, subject to supervisory review, for determining whether a situation justifies the use of a K-9 as well as the appropriate tactical measures that should be taken.

 2. Drug Detection

a. The K-9 program may include or support K-9 teams with specialized training and certification in Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Detection. 

b. K-9 Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Detection teams may be assigned to the Patrol or Investigation Divisions.

c. All K-9 related training and certification shall be coordinated through the Patrol Division Special Teams Commander.

d. Training narcotics and dangerous drugs are maintained by handlers who are assigned to K-9 Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Detection Teams in accordance with Property Control Unit procedures.

i. All  training narcotics and dangerous drugs shall be sealed in airtight containers and stored in a secure, and locked location when they are not in actual use.

ii. The West Metro Drug Task Force sergeant and K-9 sergeant may conduct random checks on training drugs to verify their condition.

 3. Assignment restrictions

 a. Agents selected must formally agree:

i. To forego promotional consideration or transfer for at least 2 years after completing basic K-9 training.
ii. To care and board the K-9 under conditions, and at a compensation rate, specified by the City.

b. The duration of the tenure of agents assigned to the K-9 Unit shall be the maximum working life of the assigned dog.  Should the assigned dog be lost or retired during the first five (5) years of duty, the agent shall be allowed to continue his/her tenure with a new dog when deemed to be in the best interest of the department.

 4. Administrative Records

a. Each K-9 handler shall maintain K-9 records which shall include logs, certifications, and other detailed information.  The K-9 sergeants shall inspect K-9 records.  Annual reports summarizing performance and activities shall be forwarded through the chain of command to the Patrol Division Chief.  

b. All K-9 deployments shall be documented and reviewed by the K-9 sergeant.

 5. K-9 Bites

a. When a K-9 is deployed in a tactical situation that results in a suspect being bitten, the handler shall:

 i. Obtain or arrange for medical attention for the suspect.
 ii. Notify an on-duty sworn supervisor.
iii. In the event of a serious bite or when deemed appropriate by the on-scene supervisor, a commander shall be notified.
iv. The use of force report and all other necessary reports shall be completed by an on-duty sworn supervisor and then forwarded through the chain of command to the Patrol Division Chief via Special Teams Commander.

 6. Training

a. K-9s shall undergo initial training of up to 14 weeks in duration.  Upon completion of initial training, each K-9 team shall successfully complete a formal certification process through a qualified independent K-9 certifying organization prior to assuming K-9 duties.

b. Ongoing certification shall require successful annual completion of a formal performance test through a qualified independent K-9 certifying organization.

c. Ongoing K-9 training shall be conducted as determined by the K-9 lead trainer.

C. Rule

1. Personnel shall not pet a department K-9 without permission of the assigned handler.

2. Under no circumstances shall an employee tease or harass a K-9.

3. Employees shall follow the directions of the handler or the supervisor when a K-9 is being used.

4. Lakewood Police K-9s shall not be used to control a crowd except when it is necessary to prevent death or injury to a citizen or to prevent an assault on a police agent.

5. Lakewood Police K-9s shall only be used to conduct a search on leash for lost or suicidal persons when, in the judgment of a handler or supervisor, there are grave extenuating circumstances surrounding the disappearance, which includes, but is not limited to the following:

a. Evidence of foul play; or

b. Reason to believe grievous harm will be suffered by the lost or suicidal person if he is not located.

6. Except where safety dictates, prior to using a K-9 to search for a suspect within a building or other area, the handler shall announce at least three times:

 “This is the Lakewood Police Department K-9 Unit.  Anybody in this building (or other identified area), announce yourself now, or my police dog will be released to find you, and he will bite you.”
a. The handler shall allow a sufficient interval between the warnings and deployment of the K-9, to allow an individual(s) to identify themselves.

b. In the rare occurrence that an announcement is not made, the handler shall thoroughly document the reason(s) in their written report.

7. When apprehending suspects, the K-9 shall be commanded to disengage as soon as the suspect is subdued or readily complies with officer direction.

     

PP-9500 - Traffic Team