Agenda Packets - 2011/08/01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item 04 August 1, 2011, Work Session Page 2 Certainly a large benefit of a police canine on staff is for positive community relations and public outreach. Most community members are fascinated with police canines and welcome any demonstration to highlight the talents and training that police canines can display. Local schools and events such as National Night Out, Festival in the Park, Safety Camp, Town Hall Meetings and other gatherings can provide the means to educate and connect with various community groups and members. Disadvantages Civil liability remains a concern for a police canine program. The risk of dog bites is present and will likely occur during apprehensions. The key to managing this area is the certified training the handler and animal attend and receive from the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA). The need for initial certification and annual recertification is vital to reducing liability to the City of Mounds View. Effective policies and procedures are a necessity which can also reduce that liability. Court rulings have been favorable for cities in the event of a bite and litigation is initiated. Proper training and documentation of the canine training along with clear policies and procedures governing the operation of canine deployment provide strong groundwork in the area of risk management. The canine handler and animal can potentially be removed from regular street patrol at times for this all important training, which then removes a patrol position from regular shift duties and potentially impacts schedule coverage. Canine handlers require compensation for the home animal care in some form as addressed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This can be accomplished through overtime pay, reduced work hours and/or some combination of each. Of course, this will either add additional cost to pay the handler or create some shortage of coverage if offered shorter working hours. For example, an officer working a 12 hour shift could be adjusted to work 11 hours, but receive pay for a full 12 hours. This will be discussed further in the cost section ahead. Administrative Issues There are also other issues requiring implementation before a canine unit can be fully operational. The selection of the canine handler, clear written policies and procedures, certified training and squad vehicle use are areas that are crucial to ensuring a successful canine program. The selection of the officer to serve as the canine handler can make or break a department’s canine program. The duties of working as a canine officer demand high physical standards as well as self-motivation, dedication and proper support of the officer’s family. A desired process for selecting the handler would likely follow similar steps as with promotional opportunities, to include an application process, oral interview and potentially a physical agility test. Clear policy development and procedures, as previously mentioned, are vital to the groundwork for the direction and operation of the program. Areas of how the canine is to be utilized, transportation and care of the dog, procedures for any bite incidents and mutual aid situations are all to be addressed in a clear department policy.