EXPLOSIVES DETECTOR DOG
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
EXPLOSIVES CERTIFICATION - DEFINED:
The demonstration of the detector teams ability to inspect for, alert to the presence of, (and locate), dynamite/TNT, smokeless powders, and other explosive(s) to the satisfaction of the Certification Official(s) present.
HANDLER: Must be a law enforcement officer or correctional officer of a federal, state, county, local department or agency, or an *APPROVED volunteer or private industry handler, AND must have completed 40 hours of LETS Training.
CANINE: Must have completed 40 hours of LETS Training with the assigned handler. NOTE: If handler and canine change and are no longer a “team” the certification is null and void.
TEAM: The handler and canine must pass the LETS Basic Obedience Skills Test (2.0) to the satisfaction of the Certification Official(s). The Certifying Official(s) decision will be final.
Certification Skills Test:
The Canine Team must demonstrate their ability to properly inspect for, detect, and locate the odors of selected explosives in rooms, vehicles (large and small), and objects designed, (or that have been known to conceal) explosives, to the Certification Official(s) satisfaction. To certify each Canine Team must successfully find and “alert” on a minimum of 5 different substances, (odors), a minimum of five (5), but not more than fifteen (15), times each during the Certification Skills Test. All alerts must be obtained within the designated time(s) established by the Certification Official(s). Example: Dynamite between five and fifteen correct “alerts”, smokeless powder between five and fifteen correct “alerts” etc, etc. These “alerts” shall be accumulated over the whole of the certification scenarios. If there is training / certification for seven (7) separate odors, then the handler’s certification sheet should reflect a total of not less than 35 alerts. This section establishes no maximum number of explosive odors that may be tested on. For every incorrect response the team shall be required to locate five additional "finds" without an additional incorrect response.
An excessive number of inaccurate responses shall be grounds for "Non-Qualifying" a team for LETS certification. The decision of the certification official is final. The handler must demonstrate the proper manner, (safely and effectively), in which to perform an inspection of all locations, (and or objects), to be inspected. This will include, (but not be limited to), proper room entry for inspection, (including the opening of doors). These abilities must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Certification Official(s) present. The Certification Official(s) decision is final.
In addition the handler must be able to demonstrate, (or express), the technical knowledge as to the proper procedures to be followed once a “find” has been declared. This will include actions to be taken by the handler, notification procedures, etc.
In all certification scenarios, (as in “real time” searches), SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT
Continued demonstration of “unsafe” behaviors, acts, or procedures, will be grounds for a “Non qualify”, (as well as dismissal from the course and/or certification attempt). In the event of such a “Non qualify” the circumstances will be reported, (in writing), to the agency of the handler involved.
A Certification sheet will be provided to each handler. Upon completion of an exercise, the instructor of the exercise shall “initial” the certification sheet, verifying every “find”.
LETS Officials will furnish an “outline” of each training scenario, including explosives type, and location of find(s), as soon as practical, after all handlers have completed the exercise(s).
The Certification Official(s), local availability, and departmental standards shall regulate the amount of explosives used in the Detector Dogs Skills Test. At no time will “Pseudo Explosive” scents be used in a Certification Skills Test and/or LETS Training.
The Skills Tests shall be in such a manner as to allow the Canine Team(s) an opportunity to demonstrate the required skills, in varying environments. Searches shall be made as “real time” as possible, including as many types of search environments as are available.
In situations where multiple teams are attempting certification, all teams will be provided the opportunity to work the same scenarios, in the same location, using the same (type and number) of testing aids. Each team will be allowed the same amount of time for each test scenario.
Certification will expire twelve (12) months after completion of Skills Test. This expiration may be extended, (on a case by case basis), provided that a certification skills test is not made available by L.E.T.S. within the twelve (12) month period covered by the certification. If the re-certification test is conducted within the time frame required by this section, only 5 finds of each explosive substance will be required to be located by the “re-certifying” team. All other tests for safety, and proper handling methods shall be required, and performed. An additional Certification Fee will be required each time a Skills Test is conducted.
It shall be noted that all situations concerning LETS Certification Skills Test can not be covered in this policy, due to the many locations and testing environments that are involved. However, the Certification Officials appointed by the Board of Regents are highly experienced in conducting such tests. The purpose of the Certification Skills Test is to determine the reliability of the canine team in locating explosives, in the safest possible manner, and how to react to locating such explosives.
* All volunteer and private industry handlers testing for advanced certification must be approved (in advance) by a majority vote of the Board Of Regents. The handler shall submit a complete resume to L.E.T.S. HQ at least 30 days prior to attempting certification. Volunteer and private industry handlers shall not be permitted to test for BASIC (Level I) certification unless the team has completed a L.E.T.S. 40 hour course of instruction.
