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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGO 99-04 Canine OperationsOPS-07.1 CANINE OPERATIONS Original Date of Issue General Order Number April 21, 1999 99-04 Effective Date of Reissue Section Code December 10, 2015 OPS-10 Reevaluation Date January 2018 Amends OPS-10 Previous Version C.A.L.E.A. Reference 1.2.9 (see “INDEX AS:”) INDEX AS: Canine Reports Searches Use of Force I. PURPOSE It is the purpose of this policy to provide guidelines for the management and use of the department's canine unit. The utilization of canines requires adherence to procedures that properly control their use and channel their specialized capabilities into acceptable crime prevention and control activities. II. POLICY It is the policy of the Iowa City Police Department to use trained canine teams in acceptable fashion to augment the traditional law enforcement and crime prevention functions of the Iowa City Police Department. The Department recognizes that under certain circumstances that the use of a canine constitutes a use of force and must comply with the Departments Use of Force policy. OPS-07.2 III. DEFINITIONS Canine (K-9) Team: an officer handler and his/her assigned police canine. Canine Supervisor: an ICPD sergeant selected/designated by the ICPD Command Staff. The Canine Supervisor reports directly to the Commander of Field Operations. IV. PROCEDURES A. CANINE UTILIZATION 1. The Department's canine team, if available, may respond on a 24- hour basis to: conduct building searches; assist in the arrest or prevent the escape of serious or violent offenders; protect officers or others from death or serious injury; track suspects or locate lost or missing persons, or hidden evidence of a crime, and detect the presence of narcotics or explosives. a. Canine teams may be assigned “routine” calls-for-service when not engaged in canine specific calls-for-service or training. b. Canine teams may be called upon to do public demonstrations as assigned. 2. Canine handlers are responsible for determining whether a situation justifies canine use and the appropriate tactical measures that should be taken. Where the on-scene supervisor disagrees with the handler's tactical assessment, the Canine Supervisor or the Commander of Field Operations (or designee, when the Commander of Field Operations is absent) should be notified and his/her decision followed. Where time does not permit such notification, the directions of the on-scene supervisor shall be followed. a. Police canines shall not be handled or given commands by anyone other than the assigned handler. Should the assigned handler be injured or otherwise unable to command the canine, the canine should be removed from the scene. 3. Canine team assistance shall be requested by patrol officers through an immediate supervisor. Communications center personnel will forward the requisite information concerning the incident to the canine handler or unit supervisor. Requests from the Investigative Section should be routed through the Investigative Supervisor on duty, or if unavailable, the request should be routed through the on-duty watch commander. In instances where the request comes from an active SRT response, the request will be routed through the SRT supervisor in charge of the scene. B. BUILDING SEARCHES FOR SUSPECTS IN HIDING A primary use of canines is for locating suspects in buildings or related structures where search by officers would create an unnecessary risk to officers and/or bystanders. All building searches or entries shall comply with departmental directives pertaining to building searches and entry. In addition the following guidelines apply when a canine unit is used in the search: 1. The building perimeter should be secured by responding personnel. OPS-07.3 2. In all cases, an attempt shall be made to contact the building's owner or tenant, an attempt shall be made to determine whether there may be tenants or others in the building, and an attempt shall be made to ascertain the building's layout. 3. When a canine building search is anticipated, a preliminary search by officers should not be conducted, as this will interfere with the canine's ability to discriminate scents. 4. On-scene personnel should take the following steps in preparation for the canine search: a. Evacuate all tenants, workers or others from the facility. b. Request that all air moving equipment be shut down. 5. The canine shall not be used to search facilities that contain substances potentially harmful to the animal unless overriding risk to human life is present. The presence of such substances is a factor weighing in favor of an on-lead search of the property. 6. Unless exigent circumstances exist, prior to commencing the search, the handler or other designated person shall loudly announce that there are police officers on the premises and that a trained police canine will be released if the individual does not surrender. This will be accompanied by the warning that the canine will find and bite the individual. This statement shall be repeated at least once. In the absence of exigent circumstances the canine unit shall wait at least 3 minutes prior to entry of the structure, to allow the suspect a reasonable opportunity to respond. In multilevel, partitioned or large single level structures said announcement shall be repeated as reasonably necessary to apprise occupants of the structure that there are police officers on the premises and that a trained police canine will be released if the individual does not surrender. For example, this standard may require a repetition of the announcement at new levels, entryways or portions of the structure distant from the original location of entry. To the extent possible, any warning should be communicated in a manner so that it is recorded by an in-car or body-cam recorder, or given over an open radio channel for capture on the voice data logs. The time and location of the announcement(s) should be relayed to communications for inclusion in the CAD but in any case shall be noted in the canine officer’s incident report. 7. Prior to entry: a. All exits should be under containment. Officers should be positioned in such a manner as to provide a view of the site without exposing them. Containment means the suspect cannot escape from the perimeter without being observed. b. Radio communications switched to a designated frequency and limited to a tactical nature. 8. The decision as to whether the search should be conducted on- or off- lead will be made by the handler based on the information available at the time. The presence of substances potentially harmful to the canine is a factor weighing in favor of an on-lead search. 9. When apprehending suspects in these or related circumstances, canines shall be commanded to disengage as soon as the suspect is OPS-07.4 subdued or readily complies with officer's commands. 10. Assisting officers should not walk between the canine and the suspect unless specifically instructed to do so by the handler. 11. The arrestee should not be transported in the same vehicle with the canine unless alternative transportation is not available and immediate transport is essential for safety or security reasons. C. REPORTS REQUIRED Use of specially trained police canines for law enforcement responsibilities constitutes a real or implied use of force. In this as in other cases, officers may only use that degree of force that reasonably appears necessary to apprehend or secure a suspect as governed by this department’s Use of Force policy. In all instances where a canine is deployed, a supplemental report shall be submitted by the handler, or in the event he/she is unable to complete the report, by a watch supervisor. The supplemental report shall be forwarded to the Canine Supervisor. Whenever the canine unit apprehends a person, the handler shall complete a Use of Force Report. Whenever a canine apprehends an individual with physical contact, whether or not in the line-of-duty, the handler shall: 1. Summon a supervisor to the scene. 2. Examine the affected area to determine the seriousness of the bite or injury. 3. Obtain medical treatment for the person; medical personnel should examine the affected area irrespective of the perceived seriousness of the bite or injury. 4. Take color photographs of the affected area, if possible, prior to and following medical treatments. A "full body" photograph should also be included. 5. Complete an incident report whenever it is known or alleged that a canine has apprehended or otherwise injured an individual. The report shall detail the circumstances surrounding the incident, the identity of the individual involved and any witnesses, the extent of the injuries, if known, and measures taken in response to the incident. A Use of Force report shall also be filled out. Copies of the incident report shall be forwarded to the Canine Supervisor and the Commander of Field Operations prior to the end of the watch. D. CROWD CONTROL 1. Canine teams shall not be used for crowd control for peaceful demonstrations or gatherings. 2. Canine teams shall be used for crowd control only upon approval of the watch commander or canine supervisor, to protect against theft or property damage during a riot or unlawful assembly (see IA code chapter 723) that cannot be controlled by other means. In these situations canines shall: a. be short leashed at all times unless no other means are available to protect an individual from serious injury; and b. not initiate any offensive action, unless to guard against imminent loss of life or possible bodily injury. OPS-07.5 E. DRUG DETECTION Use of police canines in a drug detection capacity is authorized in the following situations and under the following conditions: 1. The canine unit shall maintain records that document the use and proficiency of individual canines in drug detection. This documentation shall be readily available to canine officers and others who may need it when seeking warrants. 2. Random exploratory sniffing of luggage, packages or other inanimate objects may be conducted in public facilities such as airports, and bus terminals, as authorized by the canine unit supervisor or other authorized command officer and in accordance with State and Federal law. a. When a drug detection canine alerts to luggage or related items, a warrant or consent to search must be obtained before it is opened unless exigent circumstances exist to justify a warrantless search. 3. The use of drug detection canines in public schools is permitted only when: a. The school's principal or designated authority requests or approves use of the canines. b. The search is limited to inanimate objects in public areas and the exterior of student lockers unless reasonable and articulable suspicion exists to gain admission to lockers and related areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. (see Iowa Code Chapter 808A, Student Searches) 4. Drug-sniffing canines may be used to sniff motor vehicles when: a. Reasonable suspicion exists to believe the operator or passengers are in possession of illegal narcotics; or b. During a valid vehicle stop, the canine is used to sniff the vehicle's exterior in an exploratory manner. Unless the canine alerts to the vehicle, the operator may not be detained longer than necessary to conclude the business associated with the initial stop. F. TRACKING Police canines are available with supervisory approval to track missing persons or suspects, or to locate evidence that the supervisor has reason to believe has been abandoned or hidden in a specified open area. Such searches are subject to the following conditions and limitations: 1. When officers are pursuing suspects and contact with the suspect is lost, the officer, prior to summoning a canine team shall: a. stop and pinpoint the location where the suspect was last seen b. shut off engines of vehicles in the area if possible; and c. avoid vehicle or foot movement in the area where the suspect or subject was last seen. OPS-07.6 2. Canines used for tracking persons shall remain on a leash of sufficient length to provide a reasonable measure of safety to the subject of the search without compromising the canine's tracking abilities. 3. When used to locate small children, unless there is a reasonable suspicion of foul play or a reasonable belief that serious bodily injury or death will occur if the child is not located immediately, the search shall be conducted on-leash. If circumstances are such that an off-leash search is necessary, the canine officer shall explain the risks of apprehension to the parents or next of kin and their approval obtained to use the dog. 4. Canine teams should not be used to apprehend or locate persons suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or the mentally disturbed, if no other crime is involved, unless the person poses an immediate significant threat of death or serious physical injury to an officer or others. G. CANINE USE 1. Teasing, agitating or roughhousing with a police canine is strictly prohibited unless performed as part of a training exercise. 2. Handlers shall not allow anyone to touch, pet or hug their canine without their permission and immediate supervision. Should a civilian express a desire to do so, they should be informed that police canines are working dogs and they can be dangerous if improperly approached. H. OUTSIDE USE OF CANINES 1. Handlers will not offer or provide the services of the police canine for use to any outside agency without supervisor approval. The on- duty shift supervisor will make the decision and grant or deny approval for the K-9 unit to respond to the requesting agency. The supervisor will consider the current availability of units within the city prior to authorizing the use of the unit outside the city. 2. Emergency requests for the canine unit which occur when the canine unit is off-duty, will be cleared by the watch commander and coordinated with the canine unit. I. CANINE USE AND CARE Police canines are the sole property of the Iowa City Police Department and assigned to the selected officer(s) as a law enforcement tool. The canine officer has assigned responsibilities to maintain the animal, but the animal may be reassigned at the discretion of the Chief of Police. 1. Police canines shall not be used for breeding, participation in shows, field trials, exhibitions or demonstrations without prior approval of the Chief of Police or his/her designee. 2. Canine handlers are personally responsible for the daily care and feeding of the their animal including, but not limited to: a. maintenance and cleaning of the kennel and yard area where the canine is housed; OPS-07.7 b. provision of food, water and general diet maintenance as prescribed by the departmentally authorized veterinarian; c. grooming on a daily basis, or more often as required by weather, working conditions or other factors; d. daily exercise (police canines are not permitted to run at large unless performing police duties, i.e. training, under the direct control of the handler); 1) when someone other than the handler is exercising or otherwise handling the canine in public, the canine shall be muzzled. e. general medical attention and maintenance of health care records. The kennel area of the officer's residence is subject to inspection by the Chief of Police or his/her designee without notice. Any records pertaining to the canine which are housed at the officer's home are also subject to review and inspection without notice. J. VETERINARY SERVICE A licensed veterinarian will be chosen by the City to supply such veterinary services as needed. Periodic examinations will be arranged by the veterinarian for the canine. All medical treatments will be administered through the veterinarian’s orders. In an extreme emergency the handler may utilize the nearest available veterinarian. The handler will notify the City veterinarian as to the illness or injury of the canine, and treatment given, as soon as possible. K. REFRESHER TRAINING In order to continually develop the skills learned in the initial training, the canine handler and canine shall complete a minimum of 16 hours of refresher training each month. The canine supervisor shall arrange for periodic training to include re-certification of specific skills at designated periods. The primary responsibility of maintaining the working capabilities of the canine will remain with the handler. The canine handler shall forward documentation of all training to the department’s training officer. Samuel Hargadine, Chief of Police OPS-07.8 WARNING This directive is for departmental use only and does not apply in any criminal or civil proceeding. The department policy should not be construed as a creation of higher legal standard of safety or care in an evidentiary sense with respect to third-party claims. Violations of this directive will only form the basis for departmental administrative sanctions.