The Canine Detection Program within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is designed to provide a variety of practical, credible, and efficient countywide detection capabilities. This will be accomplished through the deployment of highly trained teams of handlers and canines from various bureaus, units, and details throughout the Department.
The services of our Canine Detection Program are available to all local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies as authorized by Department policy and protocols. Responses by canine detection personnel are based on a variety of criteria, availability of canine personnel, type of scent detection required or requested, deployment criteria, funding, and inter-agency agreements.
Canine detection handlers generally will not be assigned case investigations or other station crew duties which may interfere with the handler’s role and availability as a canine resource. Protocols for canine deployment requests are mentioned throughout this chapter.
Support for pre-planned search warrants and enforcement operations shall be made through the designated bureau/unit canine team, depending on detection need.