G.O. 3.09 - Use Of Canines

Document Identity & Legal Scope

  • General Order (GO) Number: (3.09)(3.09)
  • Section Title: RULES OF CONDUCT
  • Distribution: ALL PERSONNEL
  • Original Issue Date: 09/06/201909/06/2019 / 11/19/201811/19/2018
  • Reissue / Effective Date: 01/16/202501/16/2025
  • Accreditation Standard: POSTC 1.7.91.7.9
  • Authorizing Official: Chief Patrick J. Daley
  • Disclaimer:
    • For departmental use only; no higher legal duty created toward third parties.
    • Violations → departmental sanctions; violations of law → possible civil/criminal liability.

Purpose

  • Establish rules & regulations for Norwich Police Department (NPD) canine handlers concerning:
    • Qualifications
    • Training
    • Deployment & use of NPD canines

Policy Overview

  • NPD utilizes canines because of superior olfactory & auditory abilities.
  • Training style: “bite-and-hold.”
  • Canine deployment must:
    • Conform to Use-of-Force Policy
    • Be objectively reasonable for a lawful purpose.
    • Channel dog capabilities into legally accepted crime-control activities.

Key Definitions

  • Alert – Any canine movement signaling scent presence (sit, head raise, sniff, paw, scratch, bark).
  • Apprehension – Arrest/custody; sub-types:
    • With contact – dog physically touches subject.
    • Without contact – dog presence triggers surrender.
    • Independent of canine – arrest occurs w/o dog, but dog aided (e.g., tracking).
  • Area Search (Scout) – Off-leash search to locate hidden suspect.
  • Bite – Skin wound or puncture from canine teeth.
  • Building Search – Interior sweep with canine.
  • Contact – Any dog touch: nudge, paw, clothing seize, bite.
  • Canine Handler – Sworn officer certified by NESPAC.
  • Canine Team – Handler + assigned dog.
  • Serious Use of Force – Includes:
    1. Deadly force / critical firearm discharge
    2. Force causing serious bodily injury / hospital admission
    3. Canine bite
    4. OC / ECW on restrained person
  • Tactical Use of Canine – On-leash track or off-leash search in higher-risk scenarios (serious felony, armed misdemeanor suspect, or confined-space risk).
  • Tracking – Following scent trail of missing/fleeing person.

Canine Unit – General

  • Assignment: Patrol Division or Detective Division at Chief’s discretion.
  • Canine Supervisor(s) exercise direct oversight.
  • Objectives:
    • Support police function
    • Efficiently locate suspects, evidence, missing persons.

Utilization of Canines – General

  • Dogs may be trained for: tracking, building search, narcotics, explosives, arson accelerants, cadaver, evidence recovery.
  • Three deployment criteria (Graham-like):
    1. Severity of crime
    2. Immediate threat to officers/others
    3. Active resistance / flight
  • Preferred de-escalation options: disengagement, containment, surveillance, waiting out, reinforcements, other specialized units.
  • Certification prerequisite for all handlers.
  • Disagreement Rule: if on-scene supervisor & handler disagree on deployment → do not deploy; both file written report within 4848 hours.
  • Restrictions:
    • Avoid deployment on intoxicated, mentally ill, or juveniles unless immediate threat of death/serious injury.
    • Schools/youthful offenders: deployment strictly limited to threat scenarios or demos/narcotics detection.
  • Only designated handler may give commands; if handler disabled, secure dog in vehicle until another handler arrives.
  • Dog reassignment/retirement upon handler separation at Chief’s discretion.
  • Excessive/unauthorized force ⇒ discipline, criminal & civil exposure.

Detail Functions (Day-to-Day Tasks)

  • Effective deployment & patrol
  • Building intrusion searches
  • Searches for missing persons
  • Suspect / evidence / drug searches
  • Preventive burglary patrols
  • Rapid response to crimes in progress & officer-assist calls
  • Mutual aid to outside jurisdictions
  • Disaster victim searches
  • Officer & citizen protection
  • Public demos, PR appearances
  • Routine patrol & traffic enforcement
  • Public confidence building
  • Injury reduction for officers
  • Manpower/time reduction in searches

Authorized Uses & Specific Protocols

1 Tracking

  • Applicable to fleeing misdemeanant/felon or missing person.
  • First responding officer duties:
    • Interview witnesses → last-seen point, direction of travel
    • Classify track type (missing vs fleeing)
    • Ascertain pending charges & level
    • Gather suspect ID & description
    • Assess if suspect is armed
    • Establish perimeter; keep last-seen point uncontaminated

2 Evidence Search

  • Locate objects with human scent (wooded/overgrown areas ideal).
  • Pre-search checklist:
    • Approximate location & size/type of evidence
    • Hazards in area
    • Clear area of civilians, officers, animals

3 Building Search

  • Handler notifies dispatcher of response.
  • On arrival → tactical assessment: entry route, canine deployment.
  • Mandatory loud verbal warnings before release:
    • “Police Canine Unit, come out with your hands up or I will release the dog.”
  • Allow reasonable surrender time.
  • Multi-story: secure each floor, reissue warnings.
  • Final deployment decision rests with handler.

4 Area Search (Scout)

  • Preconditions:
    • Secured perimeter & civilian-free zone
    • Suspect violent or felony
    • Verbal warnings issued
    • Searching without dog = undue officer risk

5 Narcotic Detection

  • Detect drugs in vehicles, buildings, suitcases, money.
  • Supervisor determines necessity.
  • Schools: need reasonable suspicion; principal provides consent.
  • Vehicle exterior search on reasonable suspicion; interior requires probable cause or warrant/consent.
  • Real narcotics must be on hand for proficiency; NPD maintains DEA & CT Consumer Protection licenses and follows DEA/OCP protocols.

6 Firearm Detection

  • Dogs detect firearms, casings, residue, oils, powder.
  • Deployed in schools, public events, security sweeps.
  • Vehicle exterior search on reasonable suspicion; interior → warrant, probable cause, or consent.
  • School searches follow principal-consent protocol.
  • Handler maintains logs & quarterly/yearly training per CT State Police K-9 Unit.

7 Crowd Control

  • Dogs can open pathways through aggressive/violent protesters to allow officer entry.

Operational Protocols

Two-Handler Response

  • Primary deploys dog; secondary backs up without dog.
  • Canine official resolves primary/secondary dispute.

Demonstrations

  • Civic/school/community demos require Chief’s approval.

Requesting K-9 Services

  • Canines on 2424-hour on-call.
  • Officer → Supervisor → dispatch/mutual aid.
  • Time is critical; avoid trail contamination; secure perimeter; broadcast exact location.

Warning Announcements (Pre-Deployment)

  1. Handler/backup: alert dispatcher → dispatcher time-stamps & clears radio (“signal 8888”).
  2. Loud command (multiple times): “Police Canine Unit—come out … or the dog will bite.”
  3. Pause for surrender.
  4. Repeat for each floor/level.
  5. May omit warning only in exigent circumstances (surprise needed / risk to handler) with supervisor approval if practical.

Pre-Deployment Considerations

  • Nature/severity of offense
  • Suspect age & potential armament
  • Clear area of innocents; establish perimeter
  • Interview property owner/neighbors → check for children, disabled, animals, language barriers
  • Advise perimeter officers NOT to run if encountering canine

Tactical Deployment Rules

  • Handler decides based on training & circumstances (consult supervisor when feasible).
  • Provide warnings; allow surrender time; juvenile bite only if serious threat.
  • Call-off dog immediately when threat ends.
    • Maintain visual/auditory contact; move toward dog swiftly; consider natural struggle reflex when gauging threat.
  • Notify on-duty handler & Patrol Supervisor for any bite/injury; record supervisor name on Use of Force Report.
  • Seek immediate medical aid for all canine-related injuries.
  • Disposition codes to dispatch: “apprehension with/without contact.”

Reporting & Investigation

Handler Duties

  • Notify supervisor ASAP after tactical use.
  • Complete Use of Force Report per policy.

Supervisor Duties

  • Ensure compliance; respond to scene; follow Reporting & Investigating Force policy.

Investigation Levels

  • IA / Chief’s designee investigates any bite or serious injury & underlying offense.
  • Shift supervisor documents non-serious uses.
  • IA may be assigned any incident at Chief’s discretion.

Inter-Jurisdiction Deployment

  • Conditions:
    1. Formal request by outside agency.
    2. Approval from NPD Chief/designee.

Handler Responsibilities

  • Respond to calls where K-9 aids objectives; back up units; maintain proficiency; care for dog at home (city expense).
  • Transport dog for veterinary care; keep gear clean; file activity logs to Canine Unit Commander.

Equipment List

  • Leather leash, chain collar, 1515-ft tracking line, harness, prong collar, slicker brush & rake, bowls, food, additional as needed.

Canine Vehicles

  • Apprehension teams get vehicle w/ containment & remote door.
  • Detection-only teams get rear-hatch/cargo vehicle.
  • No personal use.
  • Handlers schedule maintenance every 3030 days → Fleet Maintenance; non-compliance documented in Blue Team; vehicle privilege may be revoked.

Injury / Illness Protocols

Dog Unfit for Duty

  • Handler informs Shift Supervisor; reports for alternative assignment.
  • Transport to vet; notify Unit Commander pre-visit (or post-emergency).
  • Submit memo on circumstances & treatment.

Handler Injured

  • First officer secures dog w/ leash → K-9 vehicle.
  • Call additional K-9 or Animal Control if available.
  • Transport dog to handler’s home; if dog injured, dispatcher contacts vet & arranges transport.

Selection, Training & Certification

Handler Qualifications

  • Minimum 2424 months LE experience ( 1212 with NPD) unless Chief waives.
  • Family willingness to house dog; secure yard.
  • Physical capability (attendance & injury record reviewed).
  • Accept overlapping/specialty shifts & on-call status.
  • Strong desire to train & care for dog.
  • Patrol K-9: must own home.
  • Detection K-9: home ownership waived w/ renter’s liability & landlord approval.

Commander Duties

  • Monitor dog care/grooming.
  • Select handlers per SOP & union agreements.

Certification & Evaluation

  • All teams must pass State Police Canine Association or NAPWDA standards; specialty certs (Explosive, Narcotic, Gun, Cadaver).
    • Yearly NESPAC/NAPWDA trial.
    • Monthly training per CT State Police K-9 Training Unit.
  • Lesson plans & curriculum kept on file in Training Division.
  • Untrained dogs not deployed.
  • New handlers complete prescribed course.
  • Continuous in-service training & documentation required.
  • Failure to meet standards → dog removed from service until compliant.

Internal Rules for All Personnel

  • No teasing, provoking, threatening gestures toward dog or handler.
  • Do not approach dog without handler consent.
  • Do not feed dog, issue commands, or show dog to public without permission.