Turlock Police Department

Field Operations

K-9 Unit

We currently have two canine teams. FTO Mike Stapler with "Stitch" FTO Steve Rodrigues with "Asta"

Training

We align ourselves with the California P.O.S.T. patrol standards and C.N.C.A. narcotic detector standards as minimum requirements. For both patrolwork and narcotic detection, an outside, independent evaluator is used to certify our canine teams. We currently use Modesto Police Lieutenant Ron Cloward as our patrol certifying official. Each canine team must certify in both patrolwork and narcotic detection on an annual basis.

Patrol Certification

Apprehension includes three sections. The first section is demonstrating the ability to send a dog after a fleeing suspect and having enough control over the dog to call him/her back to the handler before the dog apprehends (bites) the suspect. The second section is sending the dog after a suspect and having the dog apprehend (bite) the suspect. On the handler’s command, the dog must release and either lie next to the suspect or return to the handler. The third section is handler protection. The handler attempts to arrest a suspect. The suspect resists and the dog apprehends (bites) the suspect. The dog must release on command and lie next to the suspect or return to the handler.

Searching includes two sections. Both sections demonstrate the dog’s ability to locate a hiding suspect. In the first section, a suspect hides in a building that is at least 2500 square feet. The dog is sent into the building without the handler. The dog must locate the suspect and alert the handler by barking. In the second section, a suspect hides in an outside area. The dog is sent into the area without the handler. The dog must locate the hidden suspect and alert the handler by barking.

Obedience includes four sections. The first section is on-leash obedience with multiple turns, different paces (fast, regular and slow) and normal distractions (people walking in the dog’s path, animal smells, etc.). The second section is the same as the first except it is done off-leash. For both of the first two sections, the dog must stay by the handler’s left leg in a heeling position throughout the different turns and paces. The third section is down-in-motion. The dog must stay with the handler in the heeling position. On the handler’s command, the dog must lie down while the handler continues to walk. Once the handler is a reasonable distance away, he turns and faces the dog. On command, the dog must run to the handler and sit by his left leg in the heeling position. The final section of obedience includes the dog starting in the sitting position. The dog continues to sit while the handler walks away. Once the handler is a reasonable distance away, he turns and faces the dog. On command, the dog must lie down. On command, the dog must run to the handler and sit by his left leg in the heeling position.

In addition...
Those are the three P.O.S.T. patrol requirements. In addition to those, Turlock Police requires a higher standard. Our dogs must demonstrate the ability to find evidence, track a suspect, display neutral behavior to gunfire and be non-car protective.

Finding evidence includes having the dog detect human odor left on different types of objects. The natural perspiration and odor on your hands are transferred to objects you touch. Our dogs have the ability to detect that human odor and in the process, find objects of evidence.

Tracking a suspect includes the dog’s ability to follow biological ground disturbance. When you step on grass, dirt, etc., the weight of your body changes the odor of the ground beneath you. On grass for example, your shoe will crush individual blades of grass. Our dogs are trained to detect that change on the ground and follow it. Our canines do not track a suspect’s individual odor but rather the change in the surface on which the person walked/ran.

Our dogs are trained to have a neutral response to gunfire. They are trained to be "down and quiet" during gunfire. This allows the officer to focus his attention on his threat without concerning himself with his dog’s position. Finally, our dogs are trained to be non-car protective. They are trained to react aggressively only on command or if the handler is attacked.

Narcotic Detection Certification

Vehicle Searches Five vehicles are placed in an open area. Marijuana is placed on the outside or inside of two of the five vehicles. The dogs must sniff each vehicle and alert the handler when the odor of marijuana is detected. Three of the vehicles are “blank” and two of the vehicles have marijuana planted in them. If a dog alerts where there is no marijuana the team fails. If the dog fails to alert were the marijuana is planted the team fails. There is a five minute time limit in which to find both areas where marijuana has been planted. If the dog fails to find both locations within five minutes, the team fails. Building Searches Cocaine, Methamphetamines, Heroin and Opium are planted inside a building. The dog must sniff the inside of the building and alert the handler when the odor of narcotics is detected. If the dog fails to alert to the odor the team fails. If the dog alerts where there are no narcotics, the team fails. There is a four minute time limit to find each odor. If the dog fails to locate the hidden odors within the four minute time limit, the team fails.

Donations and Funding

The canine unit has three financial accounts with the City. We rely heavily on fundraisers and donations. The department allows a very modest budget for the operation of the unit. The general fund line item provides for food, training equipment, medical expenses and immediate needs. The second account is our annual training budget. This account allows us to train on a monthly basis and is done separately from our regularly scheduled patrol duties. We have a third account labeled the canine liability (donation) account. This is made up entirely of donations and fundraisers. When a person, business, organization, etc donates money to the canine unit, that contribution goes into the canine liability account and can not be used for any purpose other than police canine expenses. We use this account to purchase new and replacement dogs. The department does not financially sponsor the purchase of a police canine. If we need a new dog we use what is in the donation account. The cost of a new, untrained police dog is approximately $4500.00. Anyone interested in making a donation to the canine unit or sponsoring the purchase of a new police dog may contact Corporal Scott Ellis at sellis@turlock.ca.us or (209) 668-5550 ext.6709. The Turlock Police Canine Unit also may be available for public demonstrations. If your group or organization would like a police canine demonstration, please contact Corporal Scott Ellis.