| The ingredients to start a successful K-9 program | | | | community where they can raise their kids in relative |
| with a limited budget requires the ability for | | | | safety. When I reached out to the community for |
| everyone, including the Department and Community, | | | | support I discovered they were ready to help |
| to see the potential benefits. A certain level of | | | | already. |
| support from management, the members and | | | | A handler with good judgment, common sense, and a |
| community is required along with a handler, trainer | | | | almost fanatical drive to succeed. A team player. It |
| and program which can meet the criteria required to | | | | must be the officer who wants the position for the |
| begin. | | | | right reasons. A immature, ego centered handler can |
| Management support involves their seeing the | | | | quickly sink a program, isolating himself from fellow |
| benefits to having and maintaining a program. Often | | | | members and setting himself and the Department up |
| attending a full time program with the cost of | | | | for a bad situation and potential lawsuit. Management |
| replacing that officer while he or she is away can | | | | needs to be aware of what makes a great potential |
| stop everything in its tracks financially. When I did my | | | | handler and be able to create a long term structure in |
| training I was lucky enough to find a local trainer who | | | | which the K-9 program can not just survive, but |
| allowed me to train as I worked my regular shifts | | | | thrive. |
| saving the Department thousands of dollars. | | | | Finding a trainer and program which can meet the |
| Everything balanced out later once the program | | | | needs for the small Department, while considering a |
| started and calls for service. Management must also | | | | limited budget can present a challenge. Teaching a |
| maintain policy which provides a level of ongoing | | | | dog how to track, search and bite is just one part of |
| training requirements, including yearly certifications, | | | | the training process. Proper use of the K-9 team |
| proper record keeping, and oversight to guarantee a | | | | must conform to the appropriate laws pertaining to |
| long term successful program. With a positive | | | | the K-9 team's use while at the same time minimizing |
| attitude on both sides and a commitment towards | | | | the potential for liability issues. A good trainer should |
| the same goal it possible to have a great K-9 | | | | also be vested in the success of the K-9 team with |
| program which will benefit the Department and | | | | seeing and correcting potential problems before they |
| Community. | | | | become liabilities. |
| After the loss of my first Police Dog I approached | | | | Neighboring Departments and communities will often |
| the local elementary school to help name my new | | | | attempt to share this K-9 resource. Time is often the |
| K-9 partner. The kids really took to this and helped | | | | enemy of the K-9 team with its chance for a |
| make the community feel invested . The community | | | | successful outcome diminishing with every moment |
| are the stakeholders. Dogs can help create a bridge | | | | lost. Other people, traffic and environmental factors |
| between the Police and the community, kids love | | | | can impact a teams chance for success. Depending |
| dogs. Often I would take my K-9 partner into the | | | | on the agenda it may be difficult, or impossible, for |
| schools as part of our drug awareness program. I | | | | the Department to start its own K-9 team. It serves |
| would use the Schools as an opportunity to train. | | | | no purpose for the interested officer to see the |
| Many Departments use their K-9 programs as an | | | | potential without having the support from the other |
| opportunity to enhance community relations through | | | | stakeholders as well. A level of commitment and |
| schools, local events and even competitions between | | | | support from everyone is needed for a successful |
| fellow handlers. | | | | K-9 team and program to prosper in the short and |
| All sorts of organizations are willing to lend support, | | | | long term. Management needs to see the benefit of |
| as I discovered, if asked. The community wants to | | | | having its own team, ready at a moments notice. |
| feel part of and be vested in its local policing service. | | | | Success oftens depends on time and proximity. |
| It empowers organizations, groups and individuals. | | | | With everyone, management and community |
| Knowing that they contributed in some way for the | | | | stakeholders, working towards a common goal it is |
| Police K-9 to help find that elderly person who | | | | possible for a smaller Department to start its own |
| wandered off or with getting drugs off the streets | | | | K-9 program, benefiting from the huge payoff with |
| provides a level of empowerment. Most law abiding | | | | only a limited budget. |
| citizens want the same thing, to live in a safe | | | | |