Narcotic Detection Standard
To be eligible to certify a K-9 in narcotic detection you must fall under one of the following:
1) Full time law enforcement or corrections, active military, DOJ, HLS officers with duties as a canine handler.
2) Commissioned part time, reserve officers, or school security with duties as a canine handler. These officers shall, upon request for membership provide a written letter of endorsement, on a department letterhead, signed by the department head. This letter will outline the canine duties and responsibilities of the officer. The letter must be submitted each year to the official when the handler certifies. Membership is not valid unless the letter is current and on file with the NNDDA.
3) Non law enforcement person/s employed by a private security company. The company must have appropriate state and DEA licenses or a state private investigator’s license and a background check that must come from their state police agency. Private security personnel must provide the required documentation each time they certify.
No canine team will be dual certified in Narcotics and Explosives by the NNDDA. No certifications will be conducted at the vendor’s facilities.
TYPE OF NARCOTICS TO BE USED FOR CERTIFICATION
All K-9’s must find cocaine and at least one other narcotic to certify. Other narcotics may be, but not limited to Marijuana, Heroin, Methamphetamine, MDMA, Fentanyl, or Opium. For all narcotics the quantities will stay within the limits for Cocaine.
FENTANYL: The following procedure will be in place prior to certifying with fentanyl.
1. The certifying official must have completed and passed FEMA, a deadly dose: fentanyl, opioids, and the first responder.
2. Or a course equivalent approved by the NNDDA. A certificate of completion must be forwarded to the NNDDA Secretary
3. Naloxone, (NARCAN) must be present for all certifications.
4. A minimum dual layer packaging system for fentanyl aids shall be required.
5. The fentanyl aid shall be placed in a manner that prevents physical contact with the team.
6. One additional person aside from the handler and certifying official must be present to serve as a safety officer while the certification is taking place.
There will be two (2) stashes of each narcotic in each given area.
QUANTITIES OF NARCOTIC TO BE USED FOR CERTIFICATION
All narcotics will be within the limits of 10 grams minimum and 28 grams maximum.
ALERTS
Each handler is responsible for notifying the judges of the type of alert (aggressive or passive), the judges can expect.
There will be only one (1) negative response allowed. The handler will be notified of positive or negative response.
TIME
There will be three (3) minutes for each drug search area, once the three minutes is called the search of that area is over.
SEARCH AREA
The area can be of indoor nature (building), this area shall be no larger than one thousand (1000) square feet. Inside this area there shall be a section for each narcotic. Three vehicles, one vehicle blank, can be used in place of a space.
EXAMPLE: If a K-9 team is going to certify on four (4) narcotics, there will be four (4) sections, three vehicles, one vehicle blank, can be used in place of a space. each one containing the respective narcotic.
REWARDS
There will be no narcotic contaminated rewards during certification. EXAMPLE: A K-9 team is in the certification area, the K-9 gives a positive alert, the handler rewards the K-9 with only a non-narcotic contaminated reward. A contaminated reward might be a ball or towel scented with marijuana, cocaine, heroin or any other narcotic.
CERTIFICATION
Certification is valid for one calendar year. There will be a thirty-day waiting period to attempt to certify again if you fail certification.
RULING OF CERTIFYING OFFICIALS
The certifying official may require chemical analysis report for training aids provided for certification. All rulings by the certifying officials are final.
CERTIFYING OFFICIALS
Either a NNDDA Judge, Board of Director, Regional Certifying Official or Regional Representative may certify a K-9 team. There may be more than one (1) of these officials at any certification but only one (1) is required for certification.
CANINE PROGRAM VALIDATION/CERTIFICATION NNDDA will certify canine teams to a federal, state, or department standard. The team must submit a copy of the standard to the certifying official who must approve the standard prior to certifying the team. The standard must meet or exceed NNDDA Standards. The certifying official will attach a copy of the standard to the yellow certification sheet and retain it for future courtroom testimony. The certification will assist in validating other agencies’ standards.
TO BECOME A CERTIFYING OFFICIAL IN NARCOTICS
To be eligible to be a certifying official, one MUST be a full-time paid law enforcement officer, or corrections officer, either local, state, federal. An applicant cannot be in the business of selling police dogs. These two requirements will not be waived. A certifying official retains their certifying official status when they retire from law enforcement. If you meet the above requirements there are several ways to be considered for an interview. An applicant must be a current member in good standing with NNDDA for the last three (3) years. Proof of certifications and/or expertise must add up to three years of experience in the selected field.
An applicant should show a need for a certifying official in this area, have written endorsement from a senior (4 year) narcotic dog certification official with the NNDDA. An Applicant may produce written proof of three years of expertise with written endorsement from senior (4 year) narcotic dog certification officials of the NNDDA, or NNDDA Board Member.
Applicant must produce written support from his or her agency.
Applicant will request a certifying official packet from the Secretary of the NNDDA.
Applicant will complete the packet and return it to the Secretary of the NNDDA.
All information submitted will be validated by the NNDDA Board of Directors.
The Board will notify the applicant of the results.
Applicant must pass a formal interview with the NNDDA Board.
The Board will determine which seminar/certification the applicant must attend to work with a senior certifying official(s). That certifying official(s) will make a written recommendation to complete the process. Certifying Officials must have access to equipment and training aids to conduct this certification.
Each certifying official must ensure that they possess a current copy of NNDDA Certification Standards and certify to that standard. A CERTIFYING OFFICIAL MAY NOT CERTIFY A DOG HE/SHE HAS TRAINED THE FIRST TIME THE DOG TEAMS CERTIFY
NO CERTIFYING OFFICIAL WHO BECOMES A VENDOR OR AN EMPLOYEE OF A VENDOR CAN CERTIFY ANY CANINE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN SOLD, EMPLOYED OR MAINTAINED (MAINTENANCE CONTRACT) BY YOU OR YOUR VENDOR.
YOUR POSITION IN THE NNDDA CAN NOT BE USED IN ANY ANVERTISEMENT.
A Certifying Official may be removed from certifying official status by a majority vote by the Board of Directors