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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 23-140

NOTICES

STATE POLICE

Canine Training and Certification Program

[53 Pa.B. 691]
[Saturday, January 28, 2023]

 Under 53 Pa.C.S. § 2172 (relating to canine training standards for police officers), the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission (Commission), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police department canine units or officers, shall establish police officer canine training and certification standards, including all of the following:

 (1) Standards for initial certifications.

 (2) Standards for maintenance certifications.

 (3) Record-keeping policies and procedures for police department canine units or officers.

 The Commission adopted the following standards under the authority of 53 Pa.C.S. § 2172 on December 8, 2022, and submits them for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Training and Certification Standards

1. Basic Training

 A. Prior to conducting police operations, a police canine unit must complete a basic training program that includes instruction in basic working dog skills (temperament, obedience, apprehension, and the like), applicable specialty skills (patrol, scent, and the like) and team training with the assigned handler.

 B. Following completion of basic training, the police canine unit must be evaluated and approved by a police canine trainer operating with the approval of one of the following organizations:

 i. American Mantrailing, Police & Work Dog Association

 ii. American Police Canine Association

 iii. National Narcotic Detector Dog Association

 iv. National Police Canine Association

 v. National Tactical Police Dog Association

 vi. North American Police Work Dog Association

 vii. Penn Vet Working Dog Center

 viii. Pennsylvania State Police

 ix. United States Customs and Border Protection

 x. United States Police Canine Association

 xi. United Police and Corrections K-9 Association

 xii. Transportation Security Administration

2. Maintenance Training and Evaluation

 A. Every police canine unit shall accomplish 16 hours of monthly maintenance training that includes review of basic skills, specialty skills and use of force decision-making by the handler.

 i. A police canine unit that is unable to complete monthly training shall document the reasons and will be required to make up the missed training at the next available opportunity.

 ii. A police canine unit that fails to accomplish monthly training for 2 consecutive months will be required to be evaluated in accordance with 2.B before being permitted to conduct police operations.

 B. At least once per calendar year, each police canine unit must be evaluated and approved by a police canine trainer as specified in 1.A.

 C. A police canine unit that fails an evaluation may continue to conduct police operations for a period not to exceed 60 days, during which the canine unit must be re-evaluated and approved.

 D. A police canine unit not meeting evaluation and approval standards within 60 days will be removed from service until the police canine unit is successfully evaluated and approved.

3. Records and Documentation

 A. Every police department employing a police canine unit shall maintain documentation of all basic and maintenance training for the duration of the police canine unit's service and for at least 5 years following the end of the police canine unit's service with the department.

 B. Both initial and annual evaluations will be documented on a form promulgated by the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission.

 C. Evaluations, whether successful or unsuccessful, shall be maintained for the duration of the police canine unit's service and for at least 5 years following the end of the police canine unit's service with the department.

COLONEL ROBERT EVANCHICK, 
Commissioner

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 23-140. Filed for public inspection January 27, 2023, 9:00 a.m.]


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