How To Help a K9 Officer With An Area Search

This post is offered as a discussion topic only and does not represent legal advice. Officers must refer to the laws in their own State as well as their agency's policies, which can be more restrictive on officers than the law requires.

Scenario: An officer is working patrol when they observe a stolen vehicle turning in front of them, from a side street. The officer confirms with dispatch the vehicle is stolen and follows it as he waits for additional units to conduct a high-risk traffic stop. Prior to the arrival of back-up units, the stolen vehicle pulls to the curb. The driver, and sole occupant, exits the vehicle holding a weapon and flees towards a residential neighborhood. While fleeing the suspect’s hat falls to the ground. The officer gives chase but quickly loses sight as the suspect jumps multiple fences.

Now that the driver has fled, the officer requests the assistance of a K9 Team in order to conduct a safe and systematic search of the area.

Things to consider prior to and immediately after, the arrival of the K9 Team:

1. Establishing a perimeter/containment. A perimeter should be set as soon as possible by responding officers in order to try and contain the suspect to an area and increase the chance of arrest.

2. Preservation of clothing or articles. Efforts should be made not to disturb any clothing or article discarded by the suspect as it may be useful for tracking/locating the suspect with the police dog (Consult with your respective K9 Unit as to whether or not their dogs are trained in tracking/trailing).

3. Briefing of the K9 Team. Be prepared to brief the K9 Team with any pertinent information; including the suspect's description, criminal want/probable cause, last known location and any known officer safety information or other information that may be useful to a K9 Team during the search. If in doubt about something, SHARE IT.

4. Search with the K9 Team. Two additional officers should assist the K9 team with the suspect search. The additional officers are the K9 team’s cover and arrest team if the suspect is located.

5. During the search, the K9 handler should control the tactics of the search and be able to move perimeter personnel as needed. The on-scene supervisor can assist in moving the perimeter personnel, but these roles should be agreed upon prior to the search starting.

Don't wait for an incident to happen in order to figure how your patrol team is going to work with the K9 that arrives. If there's a K9 team that is most likely to be working while your shift is working, invite them to roll call and have a discussion about these topics ahead of time.

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