I'm trying to find out if this method is uncommon, less than common, common or to what frequency it appears in patrol K9 deployment. For those who do use this approach is it due to size and location of an agencies jurisdiction and/or training and administration philosophy. Also to what effect it has on the handler on the street, not enough time for patrol and only able to respond to calls for service, training conflicts or other perceived problems or is it mostly beneficial providing a tool not otherwise available in addition to comments of success.
David C.Frost Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2002
Posts: 1204
Loc: Nashville, TN
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It's not all that common. While there a few departments that do so, they are the exception rather than the rule. Terry Fleck pointed out an outstanding observation; If the officer is assigned to routine patrol, it's not at all cost effective. If you maintain the suggested industry standard of training time, 16 hours per month, that would be 32 hours of training time per month. Figure a minimum of FLSA time of 1 hour per day, that's another 30 hours a month that the handler is not working. You see where I"m going with this. If it is a dedicated canine unit, and all they do is answer canine calls, then there is a little more leeway. the point is, at some point the handlers have to do something other than train and take canine time.
DFrost
Any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to occur again.
It certainly isn't for the agency that doesn't have their officers handling dogs assigned to a K-9 Unit full time. This makes it a minority of programs around the country (although I believe the working conditions for a patrol officer also tasked with handling a dog under the direction of a field supervisor as just another patrolman with all the duties of every other patrolman needs to go away). FLSA issues are usually a contractual issue and are resolved in a lot of ways.
The advantages are many respect to performance. I would choose this path if I could myself and may yet do so. The disadvantages are logistical for the most part. The way we train would actually eliminate butt time. We could have detector finds out and b e rotating from patrol work to detection so i see the training issue as an easy fix, but we also train 28-35 hours a month (which i think should be a minimum for dual purpose dogs).
It also allows for a handlers who have one dog down due to illness, injury, or retirement to still be productive.
David C.Frost Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2002
Posts: 1204
Loc: Nashville, TN
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It may be "contractual" to those departments that have that luxury. Not all departments have that luxury of contracts. Admittedly I don't have the numbers, although from what I've gathered, it is uncommon. It's my belief there are significantly more departments where the officer is a regular patrol officer with the additional duty of canine, than purly canine. Again, I don't have the numbers, however, that seems to be the case. Our dual purpose teams are allowed 24 hours.
DFrost
Any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to occur again.
Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003
Posts: 1555
Loc: Melbourne, Florida
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In my county there are no dedicated only K9 handlers. The largest departments, including the Sheriffs Dept. utilize their handlers as regular patrol as well. The agency next to me is the only one I know of that did this, and it was only one term. So, I agree its uncommon. Good deal if you're a glutton for training and have the time allotted.
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