lets-narcotics certification requirements

NARCOTICS DETECTOR DOG
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

NARCOTICS CERTIFICATION – DEFINED:
The demonstration of the detector team’s ability to inspect for, alert to the presence of, (and locate) marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other narcotic(s) that might be required by the Canine Team’s department, or agency, to the satisfaction of the Certification Official(s).

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 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 marijuana / narcotics in enclosed areas, vehicles (large and small), and any object(s) or areas designed, (or that have been known to) conceal marijuana / narcotics, to the satisfaction of the Certification Official(s) present.

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.

Each Canine Team must successfully find, and alert on Marijuana (odor) a minimum of twenty (20) times during the Certification Skills Test, in the designated times established by the Certification Official(s). Additionally each team must find, and alert on the odors of Cocaine five (5) times, and at least one additional narcotic odor (5) times. These “alerts” shall be accumulated over the whole of the certification scenarios. These are minimum requirements. This section establishes no maximum limit.

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”.

The amount of marijuana and other narcotics used in ANY Narcotic Detector Dogs Skills Test shall be a minimum of 10 grams. At no time will “Pseudo Narcotics” scents be used in a Certification Skills Test or training.

During certification testing the Canine Team shall also be “proof tested” with other non-narcotic “distracter” or “novelty” odors made present during the course of the test(s). Such items will be placed to test for the ability of the canine to scent discriminate between marijuana / narcotics and other odors (“validation testing”). Various food items will also be present during testing to assure the canine is properly trained for “food refusal” while working to detect marijuana / narcotic odors.

An excessive number of inaccurate responses (false positives) shall be grounds for “Non-Qualifying” a team for LETS certification. More than 10% of inaccurate responses, over the whole of the testing scenarios, shall result in a team “Non-Qualifying” certification. The decision of the Certification Official is final and not subject to arbitration.

LETS Officials will furnish an “outline” of each training scenario, including drug type, weight, and location of find(s), as soon as practical, after all handlers have completed the exercise(s).

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. 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 overall reliability of the canine team in locating marijuana / narcotics.

NARCOTICS RE-CERTIFICATION – DEFINED: For re-certification of any certified team, within the 12 month period from previous certification, the team shall be required to attend an 8 hour re-certification class that will consist of field-tests to demonstrate the continuing proficiency of the team, to the satisfaction of the certification official(s). Testing may also include written tests to determine the knowledge of the handler in the specific discipline being tested.

A “NARCOTICS DETECTION CERTIFICATION SHEET” will be completed and marked “re-certification” by the certifying official and processed according to policy.

* All volunteer and private industry handlers testing for certification must be approved (in advanced) 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.