G18.1.4 Explosive Detection Canines
Chapter: Chapter 18: Other Orders
Sub-Chapter: 18.1 - Other Orders
Effective Date: 05/22/2020
Revised Date: 05/24/2022
Rescinds: G6.3.3 – 5/22/2020; F6.3.1 – 5/2019
G18.1.4 Explosive Detection Canines
Chapter: Chapter 18: Other Orders
Sub-Chapter: 18.1 - Other Orders
Effective Date: 05/22/2020
Revised Date: 05/24/2022
Rescinds: G6.3.3 – 5/22/2020; F6.3.1 – 5/2019
Purpose
To define the guidelines for selection, training, care, maintenance, deployment, and retirement of explosive detection canines.
General Order
The Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) uses Explosive Detection Canines (EDC) to search for explosives, improvised explosive devices, explosives residue, post blast debris, firearms, ammunition, and spent shell casings. EDC teams will be used operationally to search any area as deemed appropriate by the handler. In addition, the EDC teams conduct security sweeps, give presentations, conduct demonstrations, and support the local Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team as needed, or secure a scene as an EOD representative until EOD team arrival.
EDC handlers will have final authority for all operational decisions concerning the safety and utilization of the canine. EDC’s will not be utilized or required to operate outside the scope of their training.
Explosive Detection Canine Unit Supervision
The assistant director for professional standards and education will serve as the canine unit supervisor for all matters relating to training topics and schedules, [REDACTED], equipment and vehicle needs, and requests for canine support from any IUPD division.
Handler and Canine Selection and Compensation
EDC handler selection criteria are as follows:
- A minimum of two (2) years of employment with the IUPD
- Willingness to commit a minimum of five (5) years as an EDC handler
- Suitable living situation as determined by an in-home interview
- Ability to physically perform duties required of an EDC handler, to include long deployments in all types of weather, carrying/moving EDC and equipment when necessary, performing extended sweeps during large events, etc.
EDC handlers will receive additional compensation. The EDC handler will sign a compensation agreement at the beginning of each fiscal year.
The canine unit supervisor, in consultation with the EDC handler as appropriate, will select and approve all EDCs prior to initial training.
Initial Training
The canine unit supervisor will consult with the handler of a new EDC to determine the time needed for initial obedience training.
The IUPD will allow the handler a minimum of six weeks of imprinting training prior to putting the EDC in-service. The untrained canine will be approved as ready to begin imprinting training by the canine unit supervisor, in consultation with the handler, before beginning.
Final decisions regarding the amount of training time needed to bring a new EDC into service rest solely on the canine unit supervisor, in consultation with the handler, as this foundational training is the most crucial element in the effectiveness of EDCs.
On-going Proficiency Maintenance and Training
EDC teams require constant and on-going practice for proficiency maintenance. The IUPD EDC teams will be allotted one day per week of dedicated EDC team practice and proficiency maintenance.
EDC teams are encouraged to practice more than one day per week, as shift strength and call volume allows. EDC teams may use shift time to practice but must remain reasonably available to respond to calls for service.
Weekly proficiency maintenance may be suspended under special circumstances (i.e., special events, high volume times, etc.) and other unforeseen events that would cause undue burden to the IUPD. The division chief of police, or their designee, will communicate when proficiency maintenance will be suspended to the canine unit supervisor as soon as practicable so appropriate arrangements can be made.
The IUPD EDC teams will make reasonable efforts to practice and perform proficiency maintenance one day per month with a certified trainer and/or experienced handler to maintain current canine proficiency.
IUPD EDC teams will attempt to complete a regional Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Odor Recognition Test (N.O.R.T.) annually.
At the discretion of the canine unit supervisor, and with approval through the director for professional standards and education or their designee, the IUPD may choose to certify through an outside certifying agency in addition to the N.O.R.T.
Should an official ATF N.O.R.T. not be available or an EDC team is unable to attend, the handler will use a weekly practice day to test the IUPD EDC teams using the same guidelines as the official N.O.R.T. until such time as it can be attended.
IUPD EDC handlers will maintain accurate training records documenting all formal training activities and certifications. These records will be maintained in the IUPD’s Training Management System.
[REDACTED]
During in service training, the handler will wear training attire, khaki shorts or pants and an IUPD polo or IUPD K9 polo.
Care and Maintenance
Expenses incurred for the care and maintenance of the EDC will be paid for by the IUPD. In the event of an emergent need, the handler will be reimbursed as appropriate.
The IUPD will purchase high-quality dog food for the EDC as recommended by a veterinarian. It is the responsibility of the handler to maintain appropriate food stores and acquire food on an ongoing basis.
Handlers will ensure the EDC receives routine and emergency veterinary care, to include vaccinations, heartworm/flea/tick preventative medicine, and maintain copies of current vaccination and medical records with the IUPD records division. Should the EDC be a registered, purebred animal, registration papers will be kept along with medical and other records.
The IUPD will approve grooming expenses under certain circumstances (i.e., EDC is sprayed by a skunk; prior to important public appearances, etc.) however, regular grooming and hygiene care is the responsibility of the handler. The canine unit supervisor will review and approve if appropriate expenditures for grooming prior to services performed.
The IUPD EDC’s will not be used for breeding purposes without written approval from the canine unit supervisor and the superintendent for public safety.
Handlers will be assigned an adequate kennel for use at their residence to ensure the safe and secure kenneling of the EDC. The kennel will remain property of the IUPD. The IUPD encourages EDC’s be secured in the kennel when not in command of the handler.
The EDC handler is responsible for the safety of the EDC at all times.
The handler has the sole discretion on whether to allow IUPD employees or members of the public to pet or otherwise interfere with the EDC.
The handler is the only IUPD employee who will give commands to the EDC. Under no circumstances will any IUPD personnel tease or harass the EDC.
Deployment
The IUPD will maintain records of all deployments of the EDC.
All EDC handlers will be assigned to normal patrol shifts, unless otherwise dictated by the division chief of police, or their designee, in consultation with the canine unit supervisor. EDC handlers will be required to assist with special events (i.e., IU football, IU basketball, etc.) in addition to normal patrol shifts as assigned. The EDC handlers will be the on-site EOD liaison when EOD support is provided by another agency.
During special events where EDC handling is the only responsibility of the handler, the handler will be authorized to wear training attire as described above.
EDC handlers may be contacted during off-duty hours by an on-duty supervisor should the need for EDC arise or for guidance on matters related to EOD response. EDC handlers are not in on-call status during all off-duty hours. Depending on the nature of the incident, the EDC may respond or may provide guidance on proper response. The handler should note the time of the call for payroll purposes.
EDC handlers may transport prisoners only when the handler’s assigned vehicle is equipped with a prisoner transport partition. The decision to transport a prisoner is at the sole discretion of the EDC handler. The IUPD encourages EDC handlers to request another vehicle to transport prisoners when the EDC is in the vehicle. EDC handlers will not transport prisoners or members of the public who appear ill or may become ill due to high levels of intoxication.
The EDC handler will take care to prevent the EDC from damaging personal property of members of the public or the IUPD. When damage occurs or there is a claim of damage to any property, the handler will notify the appropriate on-duty supervisor at the division where the incident occurred, and ensure photographs are immediately taken documenting all damage. The supervisor will complete an incident report detailing the damage or claim of damage.
The EDC handler will take care to prevent the EDC from injuring any member of the public or the IUPD. Should an accidental injury or claim of injury occur, the handler will follow the above reporting requirements for reporting damage to property. Should an accidental bite occur, the EDC will be immediately kenneled prior to notifying supervision.
Canine Retirement
When an EDC is no longer capable of performing duties at an acceptable level due to age, illness, injury, or medical condition, it will be retired from service. The decision to retire an EDC will be made by the superintendent for public safety, in consultation with the handler and the canine unit supervisor.
When a handler has an EDC retire, that handler will, with the approval of the superintendent for public safety in consultation with the deputy superintendent for public safety, the division chief of police, and the canine unit supervisor, continue their assignment as an EDC handler if they still meet the selection criteria. The handler may assist the canine unit supervisor in acquiring and training of a new EDC. The handler may elect to end their time as an EDC handler when their EDC retires.
The IUPD will make every attempt to transfer ownership of the EDC to the respective handler if the handler desires. The handler will sign a release accepting all ongoing responsibility for the animal.
The IUPD may transfer ownership of the EDC to another prospective owner if the prospective owner signs a release accepting all ongoing responsibility for the animal.
If a handler separates from the IUPD while still having a serviceable EDC, the IUPD will either retire the EDC or transfer the EDC to a new handler. The handler may make a written request for transfer of ownership of the EDC upon separation. This decision will be made by the superintendent for public safety in consultation with the canine unit supervisor and others as deemed appropriate by the superintendent.
Considerations for the retirement of the EDC upon handler separation will include, but are not limited to, the age of the EDC, serviceable remaining lifespan, and the terms of separation from the IUPD.
Related Information
Indiana University Police Department:
- F18.1.4-1 Canine Care Post-Retirement Agreement