I've been asked by my PD if I would like to start working my dog on the street. I'm looking for good and bad experiences from handlers who own their PSD's. He would be covered by the city's insurance and equipment and training would also be covered as any other dog. Is there anything else I should be concerned about? This would be a first in our area and I want to have my ducks in a row before I agree to anything. Any info. would be great.
Thanks.

I would suggest you "Sell" your dog to the PD for say..a buck. That way you are disconnected somewhat if there is a lawsuit. You would be named in one of course, but the PD has deep pockets.

Draw up a contract with your agency that says you have first refusal to buy the dog back (for a buck) when the dog retires, is seriously injured and can't work anymore or when you leave the unit for whatever reason. The contract is for your protection.

If you trained the dog, then you must get a well known certification entity to back up what you have done to further ward off any lawsuits. Again, all for your protection. If the S hits the fan, you can bet you PD probably won't have your back if their looking at a huge money lawsuit so you have to protect yourself. Good Luck

BTW, I haven't personally done this but there are others here who I am sure have. Hopefully they will reply.

Howard

In our department, we don't allow contracts. The officer must donate the dog to the state. The only provision the donation allows is if the dog is retired, it will be offered back to donee. If the donee leaves or is removed from canine and the dog is still a viable asset, it remains with the department. Regardless of the training the dog has had previously, it must go through our certification course.

DFrost

At our department the PD purchases the dog. A contract is signed by the handler that says he may purchase the dog no matter how much more time the dog might have when the handler leaves the unit.

We only work the dogs for 5 years (Rarely more but it has happened) and the cost of the dog is pro-rated on a five year basis. So if the dog costs 5,000 then it depreciates a thousand a year. If the handler leaves after 3 years he must pay 2,000 or allow the PD to keep the dog. If the dog is injured or prematurely retired then the cost is 1 dollar to the handler.

Different? yes. A benefit to the handler? Absolutely.

Howard

Thanks for the replys. This is what I was looking for. I've trained him myself and the only thing left is the detector portion. We would be going through the entire training and certification course for the documentation and liability reasons. If there's anything else you can think of, let me know.
Thanks again.

I agree with Howard fully on this. I think you owning the dog will get you some liability issues in the event you are sued. Depending on what part of the country (Fedral District) you are in you may well have to go to a trial to get a judgement. I am not a lawyer, but a cop who has been sued a few times and have won (so to speak) by jury trial, bench trial and summary judgement. Even to win will cost money to defend yourself.

One thing I have heard of lately is muncipalities being taken out of the suit on a summary judgement and leaving the officer in the suit. That may (and again I am not an attorney, just an opinion) leave you vulnerable to this as you own the dog and the department does not. If I were not going to sell the dog under the method Howard described I would certainley contact an attorney who is well versed in the Federal laws and cases under the 1983 Civil rights act (which is what is mostly filed against cops because of the fees plaintiff attorneys can collect) and the tort laws of your state to find out how vulnerable you are under that situation.

I sold my dog to the PD for $100 bucks. Like Howard said, I got a contract that allows me to buy back my dog for $100 under much any circumstances I so see fit. Anytime I choose to buy my dog back they have to sell me my dog back. This was an extra measure for me, but Louisiana law safe guards an officer. The officer cannot be sued or held liable for anything with the dog taking place in accordance with the officers duties. The officer of course can be held criminally liable if he does something stupid for instance like drive down a dark road see a homeless person and release his dog just to let his dog bite someone for no reason other than amusement and not within executing official policing duties.

I did it just because if the law changes my arrangements with my department are already in effect.

The only other thing here to say is remember you are giving up your dog as a tool. I had to make the decision and ask myself, am I really prepared to put my dog that i raised and trained from a pup in a potentially deadly situation. Other than that it's awesome, because I raised and trained my own dog, I know for a fact I have total control over my dog, and my dog listens to me in all situations, and I know what my dog will do and react in all situations. Also, I know the entire background on my dog.

~CHRIS DUHON

That would be the toughest part, putting your baby in a possibly deadly situation. One reason why I don't know if I could do that. The last thing I want is having to think about such things when the chips are down and decisions have to be made in a micro second.