Certification
Certification takes place on the last day of the annual conference. Membership (or renewal) and certification is included in the conference fee. Membership is not required for certification, however, non-members will have a certification fee. Standards and certification officials can be viewed below.
If you need certification outside of the conference date, please contact us.
Narcotic Dog Certification Rules and Guidelines
Certifying Officials
Certifying officials will be any member so designated by the Association Board of Directors. The Association board of directors may, upon their review and discretion of an applicant’s qualifications, appoint said applicant as a certifying official.
To qualify as a certifying official one should have:
- A) A minimum of ten years’ experience as a full time law enforcement officer and five years’ experience specifically as a narcotics detection canine trainer.
Or
- B) A full time law enforcement officer who as a Narcotics Detection dog handler has completed a formalized course by a recognized narcotics detection dog trainer and has at least 2 years’ experience handling a narcotics detection dog and completed 200 hours as assistant in training, under the direction of a recognized narcotics detection dog trainer.
And
- C) Completed an 8 hour Association certifying official’s course.
- D) Supplied to the association board of Directors all relevant documents necessary to satisfy the minimum requirements of being an Association certifying official.
Controlled Substances
All controlled substances utilized during a certification shall have been tested by a local, state or federal laboratory for authenticity. Only actual narcotics (controlled substances) will be used during the certification process.
Controlled substances utilized will include: Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin and Methamphetamine.
Training aids from each category will be utilized during certification. Those agencies who wish to not certify on Marijuana detection will be allowed to do so.
Controlled substances used during certification shall be a minimum of 14 grams.
Each single blind search area will have Zero (O) to 2 training aids utilized during certification. These will be placed at the discretion of the certifying official. With one search area being blank. (ie. Blank meaning no training aids present in search area.)
All training aids shall be placed in the training areas no less than thirty minutes prior to canine team inspection.
A verification of odor will be conducted prior to application of the first canine team, by utilizing a K9 that will not be participating in the exercise.
A single blind exercise is described as “ the Certifying Official knows what outcome is expected of the exercise and the K9 handler does not”.
To effectively evaluate the dog detection team the certification process will include the following areas;
- a) Building
Should be of a size that is regularly encountered by canine teams. Individual room size can vary but should not exceed 1200 sq. ft. Three rooms will be utilized.
- b) Vehicles
A minimum of three vehicles shall be used. Vehicle training aids will be hidden on the exterior of the vehicle at the discretion of the certifying official.
- c) Packages and luggage
Six or more pieces will be utilized. The actual physical locations and environment will be at the sole discretion of the certifying official.
- d) Distraction aids
Distraction aids can be utilized during the certification process but will not be placed in close proximity to actual controlled substance training aids.
- e) Exterior searches (optional)
To be determined by the Certifying Official.
Time of Search
Time of search for each area will not exceed 7 minutes.
( i.e. 3 vehicles 7 minutes total time .)
( luggage search 3 minutes total time )
( i.e. 3 rooms, 7 minutes each room )
A double blind exercise is described as “that neither party, Certifying Official nor K9 handler, know what outcome is expected of the exercise.
The utilization of a “Double Blind” exercise during the certification process will ensure the certification process is conducted in a fair, random and impartial manner, with as minimal external influence on the K9 team as is logistically possible.
The double blind search area will be decided by the Certifying Official as identified in the Certifying Officials outline.
Complaints
It is the responsibility of each handler to have any questions clarified about the certification prior to deployment of the dog on the search exercise.
Any complaints about the certification process or conduct by a certifying official or Association member shall be set in writing and forwarded to the Association board of directors within ten days of the incident.
Certifying officials are not required to explain their evaluation and will not enter into a discussion with any persons disputing an evaluation process.
Costs/Fees:
If certification is requested outside designated Association training, the requesting agency shall pay in advance and be responsible for all necessary incurred travel, meal, lodging or other related expenses for the certifying official.
Each canine detection team who successfully passes certification shall, within 7 days of certification, receive a Letter of Certification from the Association. The association will retain a copy of the Letter of Certification for each dog team.
Any person wishing to certify additional canines will be assessed a twenty five dollar fee per dog team.
Certification Records:
All records are the sole property of the Association and are nontransferable unless otherwise specified.
Alerts:
It is the responsibility of each handler to advise the certifying official present as to the type of alert/indication the canine exhibits. (Passive/Aggressive). The handler must verbally state “alert” to the certifying official and identify the location of the alert or the alert/indication will not be acknowledged.
Rewards:
No narcotic scented rewards will be allowed utilized during certification exercises.
Members:
All Regular or Associate member in good standing, who otherwise qualifies reference other rules and regulations contained within Association bylaw, shall be deemed qualified to attempt Association certification.
Passing Certification Standards:
In order for a detection team to complete certification the team must successfully complete the search for those substances for which the dog is trained, to include but not limited to; Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin and Methamphetamine.
The canine team shall locate / indicate on ALL of the hidden controlled substance training aids.
If during the certification a handler calls an “alert” by the canine where there are no training aids hidden this will be considered a “false response” or “nonproductive alert” by the detection team. Any “nonproductive alerts” called by the handler will result in certification failure.
Certification Failure: Any detection team that fails to locate / indicate on one aid during the certification may be tested again the same day; IF in the opinion of the Certifying Official that the miss is entirely handler error and requires no additional training of the Canine.
A detection team which fails to qualify for certification may reschedule another certification at a later date.
All decisions by the certifying officials at the time of certification are final and do not carry an appeal process.
- Every handler will be responsible for any damage inflicted by the detection team canine, to training area, persons or other canines.
- Electric, Prong collars are not permitted.
- Handlers who have completed certification shall refrain from any contact with handlers who are awaiting certification.
- It is the responsibility of the Association certifying official to implement the certification in a fair and impartial manner.
- Only actual controlled substances will be used during Association certification.
- An Association certifying official will explain certification rules to all handlers prior to the certification. A copy of the rules will be given to any handler upon request.
- There will be no training, play or practice with canines in or around any certifying areas.
- All handlers should attempt to have their dogs refrain from urinating in the certifying areas.
- If in the opinion of the certifying official, a handler uses extreme or abusive treatment of a canine, displays loss of temper or poor sportsmanship, the certifying official will immediately disqualify that detection team. There will be no appeal process.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST POLICE DETECTION DOG ASSOCIATION
EXPLOSIVE CERTIFICATION
Canine Team Certification:
Certification for the named canine team (one canine handler and one canine) shall be valid for up to one year (365 days or 366 days in a leap year). Canine handlers with more than one canine shall be required to independently certify with each canine. It is recommended the canine team shall perform regular documented maintenance training, periodic proficiency assessments, double-blind assessments, and follow other recommended Federal, state, and local guidelines.
The certifying official(s) shall not be routinely involved in the training (maintenance training, periodic proficiency assessments, double-blind assessment, etc.) of the canine team being evaluated.
1 Certification will include both single – and double-blind exercises:
1.1 Single Blind: A single blind xercise is described as “the 1Certifying Official knows what outcome is expected of the exercise and the K9 handler does not”.
1.2 Double Blind: A double blind exercise is described as “that neither party, Certifying Official nor K9 handler, knows what outcome is expected for the exercise”. (The double blind search area will be decided by the Certifying Official)
1.3 Certification shall be conducted with actual explosive, or explosive precursor chemicals. No Pseudo explosives will be used in the
2 6 (six) Mandatory explosives used in certification are:
2.1.1 Ammonium nitrate (AN)-based:
2.1.2 Black Powder
2.1.3 Double Based Smokeless Powder
2.1.4 Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN)-based, and
2.1.5 Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX)–based.
2.1.6 Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
3 8 (eight) Elective explosives used in certification may include any of the following:
3.1 Dynamite (nitroglycerin (NG) or ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN)-based);
3.2 Ammonium nitrate (AN) blended with high explosive-based explosives;
3.3 Single based Smokeless Powder
3.4 Plastic explosives (untagged and tagged);
3.5 Nitrate Based Mixtures
3.6 Chlorate Based Mixtures
3.7 Emulsions
3.8 cast boosters
4 Explosives Restricted Use:
4.1 Peroxide-based explosives [e.g., Hexamethylene Triperoxidediamine (HMTD), Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) will not be used in certification due to its volatility.
5 Target Odor Weights:
5.1 Minimum weight of target odor(s) used for certification shall be 30 gms (1 oz) Maximum weight of target odor(s) being tested shall be determined by the evaluator and based on mission requirements and associated threat.
6 Certification Protocols.
6.1 It is the responsibility of each handler to advise the certifying official present as to the type of alert/indication the canine exhibits.
6.2 The canine hander must verbally state “alert” to the certifying official and identify the location of the alert or the alert/indication will not be
6.3 The canine may not be able to make a final response due to the components and parameters of the certification.
6.4 Reasonable consideration by the certifier shall be given in these instances (e.g., target is inaccessible for the canine to make a final response).
6.5 The desired outcome of the search is the identification of the number and placement of the target odor(s) by the canine team.
6.6 No detonators will be placed with the target odor or used in
6.7 Aggression towards a placed target odor (intrusive contact, bite or scratch) shall trigger an immediate disqualification.
6.8 Only explosives that have been properly maintained, stored, and are in good condition shall bwe used.
EXPLOSIVE ODOR RECOGNITION TEST (ORT)
7.1 The canine handler shall be advised of the parameters of the
7.2 18 one-gallon paint cans numbered 1-18, placed in a 30 ft (9 m) radius circle spaced minimum 3 ft (1m) The number for each can will be located on the base supporting the one gallon can and clearly visible to the handler.
7.3 The sample containers shall be placed in a location that minimizes environmental influences that may affect the odor.
7.4 Each test sample (target odor or distractor) shall be placed in a clean container, with perforations (quart size unlined metal paint can).
7.5 All perforated sample containers must be Each perforated container will be placed in a larger external container (gallon size unlined metal paint can).
7.6 All external containers must be
7.7 External containers will not be
7.8 All containers will be absent of external markings and all perforations will be small enough to eliminate the presence of visual cues.
7.9 Each quart can, will have a lid with 10 – ¼” (00.64 cm) size holes in a circular pattern.
7.10 Within the 18 quart cans, there will be the following:
7.10.1 6 cans contain explosives from 6 explosive
7.10.2 6 cans contain distractor odors (see distractor odor list)
7.10.3 6 cans are blank.
7.11 The certifier will randomly select the arrangement of the sample containers for the target odors, distractors and blanks, using a random number generator (RNG).
7.12 The ORT phase will have a thirty (30) minute MINIMUM set time for all explosives placed for this exercise.
7.13 Handler is allowed two (2) complete revolutions of the A canine team will not be allowed to back-track or reverse direction partway through a chosen direction.
7.14 If handlers decide their canine did not satisfactorily search specific sample container(s), or they observe a change of behavior (COB) involving a specific sample container, they may return to that or those container(s) without it being considered a “second pass,” if done
7.15 When canine indicates on a can the handler will advise the certifier of the can number before canine is rewarded. The certifier will provide handlers with real-time feedback (e.g., “yes” or “no”), and canines should only be rewarded for correct responses AFTER confirmation by the certifier.
7.16 If the canine team exceeds two false alerts, the team will be allowed one additional attempt to pass the ORT after every other participant has completed the test.
8 Failure of the Odor Recognition Test (ORT) assessment:
8.1 The canine team fails to locate all the required target odors within two
8.2 The canine team exceeds the maximum amount of false or non-productive responses.
8.3 Biting, scratching, or aggressively disturbing a placed target
8.4 The certifier can fail the canine handler team if it is determined that the canine is no longer actively searching.
8.5 For successful ORT / certification, the canine team shall achieve an overall 100% positive alert rate on target odors and not exceed 2
non-productive (“false positive”) responses to non-explosive samples.
9 DISTRACTOR ODORS USED FOR ODOR RECOGNITION TEST.
The following distractors can be used but are not limited to:
9.1 Rubber Bands
9.2 Electrical Tape
9.3 Glue
9.4 Crayons
9.5 Vitamin C
9.6 Cheerios
9.7 Batteries
9.8 Aspirin
9.9 Nitrate Gloves
9.10 Microfiber pads
9.11 Liquid Soap
9.12 Duct Tape
9.13 Nylons
9.14 Packing Tape
9.15 Shoe Polish
9.16 Dog Food (commercially produced kibble)
10 Operational Searches:
10.0 One of the three operational searches will be a “Double Blind” The double-blind exercise will be decided by the certifying official. During the double-blind exercise, the certifier will not be present, only the canine team.
10.2 The canine handler shall be advised of the parameters of the certification but shall not know the number or placement of the target odors(s).
10.3 Each single blind search area will have zero (0) to two (2) training aids utilized during certification. These will be placed at the discretion of the Certifying
10.4 If the target odor is moved to a new location, the previously used area cannot be used for operational searches.
10.5 Prior to the first canine handler team entering the search area; a separate, nonparticipating canine handler team should be used to search area (this step randomizes canine odor if multiple canines are to be assessed in the same area and ensures target odor is accessible).
11 PARCEL/BAGGAGE SEARCH
11.1 5-minute time limit for
11.2 Room (minimum size 30 x 60 ft / 9m x 18m) will contain 10 baggage/parcel(s) minimum size 44cm x 31cm x7.2cm.
11.3 Examples of baggage/parcels include hard and soft-shell suitcases, clothing bags, briefcases, golf bags, duffle bags, cardboard boxes, envelopes, and other mail material.
11.4 Target odor shall be randomly placed within the baggage/parcel
11.5 Concealment should be sufficient to avoid visual cues indicating the location of the target odor to the canine and/or handler.
11.6 Baggage/Parcel package will be placed on the floor in any pattern, 3 ft (1m) from each other. (Certifier will determine placement pattern)
12 ROOM SEARCH
12.1 10-minute time limit for
12.2 Room search (Each room will be a minimum of 200 sq ft / 192 m). Larger rooms may be sectioned off to meet the 200 sq ft / 192
12.3 The certification shall include a minimum of three (3)
12.4 Rooms must be furnished (i.e.: kitchens, workshops, offices, hotel rooms, school rooms containing furnishings and/or equipment)
12.5 The explosive aids shall be placed anywhere from ground level to 6 ft
12.6 The certification shall include blank
12.7 The handler shall not change the search environment (open any closed doors, cabinet drawers etc.) during the search.
12.8 The handler can use allotted time to search any of the rooms at their
13 VEHICLE SEARCH
13.1 10-minute time limit
13.2 5 vehicles in search, vehicles may be of any type or model (e.g., Passenger vehicle, pickup trucks, buses, vans)
13.3 The explosive aid can be placed on the outside of the vehicle or placed inside where odor is available to the canine from the outside.
13.4 Canine or canine handler are not permitted to enter vehicle or open doors, only exterior of vehicles are to be searched.
13.5 Only one target odor shall be placed on any
13.6 No two vehicles containing target odors shall be placed next to each
13.7 The parking area shall be consistent with the number of vehicles to be searched or larger, with ample room between each vehicle to allow the canine handler team to move around each vehicle. A minimum of one standard size parking space (8 ft / 2.4 m) shall separate each vehicle.
14 SCORING
14.1 ODOR RECOGNITION TEST (ORT)
14.2 During the Odor Recognition Test (ORT), the team must correctly identify the six (6) explosive odors (100%) with no more than two (2) non-productive (“false positives”) responses to nonexplosive
14.3 If the team has MORE than two (2) false positives, the team will be allowed one additional attempt to pass the ORT. The second attempt should take place after every other participant has completed the
14.4 CANINE TEAMS WILL NOT MOVE TO OPERATIONAL TESTING IF THEY HAVE FAILED THE ODOR RECOGNITION TEST (ORT)
15 OPERATIONAL TESTING (ROOMS, PARCELS, VEHICLE)
15.1 K9 teams must achieve 100% alert rate on all explosive odors in the three phases of the operational test (baggage/parcel, rooms, and vehicles).
15.2 Canine team are permitted a total of two (2) false positives during operational testing phase of certification.
15.3 If the explosives are intentionally disturbed or retrieved by the canine, the team will be disqualified from certification.
15.4 The canine team should be able to locate all target odor(s) within 3 ft (1 m) from the source without disturbing the target odor(s), regardless of the height of the source, barring extenuating environmental conditions deemed relevant by the certifying official(s).
15.5 The certifying official may fail the canine team due to canine handler errors and breaches of safety, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:
15.6 Not maintaining positive control of the canine, which may lead to safety issues:
15.7 Allowing canine outside of the search
15.8 Not following directions of the certifying
15.9 Deliberate compromise of an evaluation will not be tolerated. Any communication concerning specifics of the evaluation will constitute a compromise and will lead to termination of the canine team’s
15.10 If a canine team fails the certification, the Certifying official(s) shall identify the performance deficiency to the canine handler (i.e.,:odor recognition, false alerts, search patterning) so that the trainer can determine the minimum amount of time for the deficiency to be remediated before another certification attempt.
16 Certification Records:
16.1 Each canine team who successfully passes certification shall, receive a Letter of Certification from the Association, within 7 days of certification. The Association will retain a copy of the Letter of Certification for each dog team.
16.2 All records are the sole property of the Association and are non-transferable unless otherwise specified.
17 Complaints:
17.1 It is the responsibility of each handler to have any questions clarified about the certification prior to the deployment of the dog on the search
17.2 Any complaints about the certification process or conduct by the certifying official or Association member shall be set in writing and forwarded to the Association board of directors within ten days of the
17.3 Certifying officials are not required to explain their evaluation and will not enter into a discussion with any persons disputing an evaluation
18 : Rules of Conduct.
18.1 Every handler will be responsible for any damage inflicted by the detection team canine, to training area, persons or other
18.2 Electric, Prong collars are not
18.3 Handlers who have completed certification shall refrain from any contact with handlers who are awaiting certification.
18.4 It is the responsibility of the Association certifying official to conduct the certification in a fair and impartial manner.
18.5 Only actual explosive substances will be used during Association
18.6 An Association certifying official will explain certification rules to all handlers prior to the A copy of the rules will be given to any handler upon request.
18.7 There will be no training, play or practice with canines in or around any certifying areas.
18.8 All handlers should attempt to have their dogs refrain from urinating in the certifying areas.
18.9 If in the opinion of the certifying official, a handler uses extreme or abusive treatment of a canine, displays loss of temper or poor sportsmanship, the certifying official will immediately disqualify that detection team. There will be no appeal process.
Acknowledgements.
United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) for allowing use of their ORT specifications.
OSAC Explosive Detection Dog standards. Utilized procedures for baggage / parcel searches and room searches.
- Luggage/Parcel search 10 bags
- Examples of baggage/parcels include hard and soft-shell suitcases, clothing bags, briefcases, golf bags, duffle bags, cardboard boxes, envelopes, and other mail material.
- Room search (Each room will be a minimum of 200 sq ft / 192 m). Larger rooms may be sectioned off to meet the 200 sq ft / 192
Brad Smith
Officer Brad Smith started his law enforcement career in 1999 as a sheriff’s deputy with the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office in Montana. In 2003, Smith went through basic dual-purpose handler school at Crazy Mountain Kennels in Big Timber, MT with K9 Cyrus (German Shepherd). In 2005, Smith lateralled to the Duvall Police Department, WA where he started their K9 Program while still partnered with K9 Cyrus. They began attending and certifying annually through PNWK9 in 2006. K9 Cyrus passed away in 2009. Smith lateralled to the Marysville Police Department, WA in 2009 where he was partnered with narcotic detection K9 Katy (Black Labrador Retriever) in 2011. Smith and K9 Katy spent several years on the PRO-ACT Team before retiring K9 Katy in 2016. Smith was then partnered with dual-purpose K9 Steele (Belgian Malinois) in 2016. Smith imprinted/trained K9 Steele and K9 Copper of the Marysville Police Department in narcotic detection. Smith is currently the department narcotic detection dog trainer and assigned to the K9 Unit. Smith became a certifying official for the Criminal Justice Training Commission and PNWK9 in 2018.
Gunner Fulmer | Walla Walla Police Department – Retired
I started my career in Law Enforcement for the city of Walla Walla in 2008, after serving 13 years as a Paramedic/Firefighter for the same city. I was awarded my first canine partner in 2009, K9 Rev. I worked K9 Rev as a narcotics canine on patrol, serving 6 different cities, FBI, DEA and Washington State Penitentiary. In 2015, I retired K9 Rev and received K9 Pick. In 2015, I was assigned to a special teams unit, assisting departments in and around Walla Walla, FBI, DEA, Washington State Penitentiary and other task forces in our region.
In 2018 I was promoted to patrol sergeant but continued to work my dog until the beginning of 2020. K9 Pick was retired in February of 2020. In February of 2020, I was promoted to administrative sergeant within my department. I retired from the department in December of 2022. I now serve as an elected Walla Walla County Commissioner for District 3.
I have been part of PNWK9 since 2009, I helped establish the regional training group in South Eastern Washington and North Eastern Oregon. I have helped instruct handlers since 2015 and have been certifying canine teams since 2018. I have testified in several large federal narcotic cases as an expert witness to canine behavior, training, and certifying handlers. I was asked to serve as president of PNWK9 in 2022. I look forward to many more years of providing great training, instruction, and guidance to our canine teams in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia.
Oregon
John Eckhart | Eckhart K9
John Eckhart is an explosives detection dog trainer and handler working events for the NFL, NBA and various entertainment venues across the Pacific Northwest. John Eckhart retired from the Portland Police Bureau as Assistant Chief of Police. John is a currently a Certifying Official for the Pacific Northwest Police Canine Association and a Security Representative for the National Basketball Association where, in addition to general security duties, he assists with detection dog oversight for select NBA events worldwide. Additionally, John is a K-9 Trial Judge for National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW) judging detection dog trails across the Pacific Northwest. John currently owns an explosives detection dog company and has retired law enforcement and military handlers working events throughout the Pacific Northwest. Additionally John trains detection dog teams for law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Washington.
John began his police canine career in 1986 as a Police Service Dog Handler in Portland, Oregon. John has worked and trained Patrol Dogs, Cross Trained Dogs and Single Purpose Detection Dogs for over 30 years. He started Portland’s Detection Dog Program in 1991 and handled the first Detection Dog for the Portland Police Bureau. John is a two-term past president of the Oregon Police Canine Association (OPCA) where he started the Detection Dog component of that association. John authored the State of Oregon Police Anim
Secretary/Treasurer
Diane Barclay
City: Mountain Home, ID
Email: diane@pnwk9.org
Phone: (208) 943-124
Idaho
Mike Barclay | Elmore County Sheriff’s Office
Mike Barclay currently works for Elmore County Sheriff’s Office in Mountain Home, Idaho. Mike has 25 years of Law Enforcement experience. He has over 17 years of Narcotic’s K-9 Handling experience and applications and has supervised multiple K9 units over the years between his time with the Mountain Home Police Department and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.
Mike started his Law Enforcement career in 1986. He served in the US Air Force from 1986 until 1990 as a Security Policeman. Upon an Honorable discharge from the USAF, Mike joined the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve Deputy. In 1994 he was hired by Mountain Home Police as a Patrol Officer. In 1996 he was selected to be the first Officer with Mountain Home Police to obtain a K-9 for the department. Mike was assigned his first Narcotics / Personal Protection K-9. At the time of implementing the K-9 program, Mike was responsible for drafting and writing the department’s K9 policy and procedures. After 2 years of showing the value and demand for a narcotic’s K9, Mike was able to write and apply for a grant to add a second Dual Purpose K-9 to the department. In 2000 Mike was appointed K-9 supervisor to supervise the MHPD K-9 program until he resigned from Mountain Home Police and went to work with Elmore County Sheriff’s Office in 2002 taking his K9 partner with him to the Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after his arrival at the Sheriff’s Office, he accepted the position of Captain of the Detectives with the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office working Narcotics and Major Crimes while still handling a K9. In December of 2012, he was promoted to Chief Deputy where he was able to implement a strong K9 program with 4 Narcotics K9 teams. In December 2016, he stepped down as Chief Deputy and took a Patrol Deputy position. He is currently the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics instructor for Concealment Techniques and Drug recognition and has directed and commanded several multi-agency Interdiction Efforts along the corridor of Interstate I-84 in Elmore County, Idaho.
Mike’s training includes but is not limited to several K-9 schools that were directed at concealments techniques to defeat K-9 applications, K-9 selection, K-9 Handler selection, Supervision and Responsibilities of K-9’s programs, Training Applications of K-9’s and K-9 legal updates just to name a few. He has attended the Idaho K-9 Evaluator/ Training class.
Mike competed in the 2008 World Police Games with his previous K9, Maggie. He has been a certifying official for PNWK9 since 2011. He is a firm believer that training and training hard only makes for exceptional K-9 teams. I believe that K-9s are a true asset to any department.
British Columbia
Gord McGuinness | Metro Vancouver Transit Police
Gord McGuinness is currently a member of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Service in British Columbia, Canada. This new assignment follows a 34-year career with the Vancouver Police Department. Prior to his retirement from the VPD, Gord spent 18 of 34 years as a canine handler and worked five police service dogs during his time in the VPD Canine Unit.
For more than a decade Gord held the position of Head Trainer in the Canine Unit where he was responsible for implementing the first single purpose, narcotic and explosive detection dog teams in the history of the Vancouver Police Department. His responsibilities also included the acquisition and training of 21 general duty and 4 detection dog teams. Throughout his time in the Canine Unit, Gord worked his own general duty and explosive detection dog.
In addition to his policing career, Gord operates a private consulting business in which he trains patrol, narcotic and explosive detection dogs for the private security industry. He has worked closely with Fred Helfers, over the past 19 years and is a co-founder of the Pacific Northwest Police Detection Dog Association.
NARCOTIC SITE INSTRUCTORS
EDDY MACVEIGH
Eddy MacVeigh has over 20 years experience managing, working, and training canine units for the private security industry in Explosive Detection, Narcotic Detection, and Personal Protection.Over his career Eddy was instrumental in building one of Western Canada’s largest private canine units from one team to over forty teams today. During this time Eddy also actively handled his own Protection, Narcotic, and Explosive Detection canines.Eddys experience lies in deployment of canine units in the marine and aviation industry, playing a key part in implementing detection dog programs in some of Canada’s largest port, aviation and cargo terminals.Based out of Langley, British Columbia, Eddy currently provides contract training, consulting and kennelling services to law enforcement and private security across Canada.Eddy has been a member of Pacific Northwest Police Detection Dog Association since 2012 and maintains memberships with the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators (IABTI) and American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS).
HERBERT NAKAMURA
Owner of Hawaii K-9 Koncepts. Retired officer, K-9 handler and trainer for the Honolulu Police Department after twenty-eight years of service. Fourteen years handling and assisting in the training of police service dogs while employed with HPD and nine years since retirement. Worked with various types of detection dogs: explosive, narcotics, search and rescue, etc. Eight years of swat training including joint sessions with the FBI, NIS, Military SEALS, and various state and county agencies. Four years as an instructor and mentor of the D.A.R.E. program. Five years as a Federal Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration conducting airport interdiction and investigations. Eight years as a certified canine trainer with the Narcotics/Vice Division. Certifying Official for the California Narcotic Canine Association and the American Working Dog. Hawaii’s only member of SWGDOG (Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal detector Guidelines) and OSAC (Organization of Scientific Area Committees). Declared an expert witness in the field of canine certification, canine training, and canine handling with respect to canine narcotic detection in law enforcement. Has facilitated the Annual Hawaii State Narcotics Canine Training for fifteen years. Licensed by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the State of Hawaii Narcotics Enforcement Detail.
JERRY BRADSHAW
Jerry Bradshaw is the Owner and Training Director of Tarheel Canine Training www.tarheelcanine.com, the host of the Controlled Aggression Podcast, and the executive director of the Protection Sports Association www.psak9-as.org. Jerry has given police canine seminars to law enforcement and military audiences across the US & Canada, as well as Australia, China, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, South Africa, and Brazil.
CHRISTINA BUNN
JOSH MADSEN
EXPLOSIVE SITE INSTRUCTORS
JOHN ECKHART | Eckhart K9
John Eckhart is an explosives detection dog trainer and handler working events for the NFL, NBA and various entertainment venues across the Pacific Northwest. John Eckhart retired from the Portland Police Bureau as Assistant Chief of Police. John is a currently a Certifying Official for the Pacific Northwest Police Canine Association and a Security Representative for the National Basketball Association where, in addition to general security duties, he assists with detection dog oversight for select NBA events worldwide. Additionally, John is a K-9 Trial Judge for National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW) judging detection dog trails across the Pacific Northwest. John currently owns an explosives detection dog company and has retired law enforcement and military handlers working events throughout the Pacific Northwest. Additionally John trains detection dog teams for law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Washington.
David Wood |
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Police Dog Service Provincial Program Manager/Supervisor
Pacific Region (British Columbia & Yukon Territory)
Joined the RCMP in October 1977 where I eventually got selected for the Police Dog service in 1988. Over my thirty years as a police dog handler, I have worked four German Shepherds utility trained dogs, three cross trained for narcotic detection, one cross trained for explosive detection and one explosive detection training lab. In 2005, I was promoted to the Police Dog Program Manager/Supervisor and was responsible for the Police Dog Program in the Pacific Region providing functional supervision, training and staff development to eighty dog handlers, both patrol and jetway/pipeline drug specialty teams. I was also responsible for training, validations, and operational competency of the two civilian search and rescue dog associations. Canadian Avalanche Rescue Association (CARDA) and British Columbia Search Dog Association. (BCSDA)
I was a designated instructor on National Tactical Emergency Response Courses related to police dog tactics such as, Police Dog Handler Officer Safety Course, Armed Ship Boarding Course, Basic Emergency Response Team “Bush Tracking and Rural Patrol Tactics”, as well as Tactical Team (Crowd Management) Police Dog tactics, as it related to formations and deployments.
I coordinated many major events related to police dog explosive detection prevention and response such as 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver BC, as well as major investigations in Western Canada where multiple explosive detection dog teams were required.
From 2010 to my retirement in 2012, I conducted explosive and narcotic validations of security dog teams in the Province of BC under the authority of the Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Currently, I continue to provide training to explosive, narcotic and search & rescue dog teams in the Pacific Northwest. I have been associated with the Pacific Northwest K9 Detection Association since 2008 as an instruction and training facilitor.