Police Canine Handler

Mebane, City of (NC); Mebane (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Mebane Police Department seeks a dedicated Police Canine Handler to patrol the community and respond to calls, applying trained canine capabilities in tracking and searches. You will work under a sergeant and maintain canine health, training, and readiness while documenting activities.

Responsibilities include daily canine care, vehicle/kennel maintenance, public demonstrations, and collaboration with officers. Requires NC BLET certification and completion of canine handler training.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalency.
• Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice desirable.
• Prior patrol experience and demonstrated ability to work effectively with a police canine are preferred.
• Must be selected and complete department canine handler training and certification.

Responsibilities

• Patrol duties in areas with varying crime levels and engage with the community on safety.
• Deploy the police canine for tracking, area searches, evidence searches, and locating missing or endangered persons.
• Maintain the canine’s training and proficiency through regular exercises and training records.
• Provide daily care for the canine, including feeding, grooming, kennel, and veterinary monitoring.
• Inspect and maintain the canine vehicle, kennel, and related equipment.
• Maintain accurate canine training, deployment, and veterinary records.
• Explain canine capabilities to officers and assist with demonstrations and public education.
• Conduct pre-tour inspections of equipment to ensure readiness.
• Assist in investigations and enforce traffic laws as needed.

Skills

Law enforcement basics

Canine handling

Firearms proficiency

Emergency decision making

Canine care & welfare

Public relations

Report writing

Education

High school diploma

Criminal Justice degree desirable

Tools

BLET certification

Canine handler training

Job description

General Statement of Duties

Performs specialized law enforcement work patrolling the city, responding to calls for service, conducting routine investigations, and deploying and maintaining an assigned police canine in support of law enforcement operations.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class is responsible for performing general duty law enforcement work for the field operations bureau of the city’s police department, with the additional responsibility of handling, training, deploying, and caring for an assigned police canine. Work includes routine patrol, traffic enforcement, traffic accident and criminal investigation, serving criminal papers, responding to calls for service, and using the canine for authorized law enforcement purposes, including tracking, searching, locating persons or evidence, and other functions for which the canine is trained and certified.

The employee is responsible for maintaining the canine’s physical condition, health, training, and operational readiness; ensuring appropriate care, feeding, grooming, exercise, housing, and transportation; and maintaining accurate training, deployment, care, and veterinary records. The employee must exercise sound judgment in determining when and how to deploy the canine and must comply with applicable law, departmental policies, training standards, and reporting requirements. The employee is highly visible in the community and must be able to develop a positive public image. Tact and firmness, sound judgment, patience, and a positive attitude are required. Employee is subject to the usual hazards of law enforcement work, as well as risks associated with canine handling and deployment. Work is performed under the immediate supervision of a sergeant, and is evaluated for effectiveness, visibility, sound judgment, canine proficiency, operational readiness, and apprehensions. Work is reviewed by observation and review of written reports and canine-related records.

Illustrative Examples of Work

• Performs general patrol duties in areas of the community exhibiting both high and low crime incidents; meets and talks to people in the community about their safety and support; checks the security of buildings and residences; and apprehends and arrests offenders


• Deploys the police canine in accordance with departmental policy, applicable law, and the canine’s training and certification, including authorized tracking, area and building searches, evidence searches, suspect searches, and locating missing or endangered persons


• Maintains the canine’s training and proficiency through regular scheduled training, scenario-based exercises, and other approved training; documents training activities and evaluates the canine’s performance and readiness


• Provides for the daily care and welfare of the assigned canine, including feeding, grooming, exercise, kennel and vehicle sanitation, and monitoring the canine for injury, illness, stress, or changes in behavior; promptly obtains veterinary care when needed


• Inspects and maintains the assigned canine vehicle, kennel, and related equipment to ensure they are clean, safe, secure, and operational; ensures appropriate supplies and equipment are available


• Maintains accurate records regarding canine training, deployments, searches, apprehensions, veterinary treatment, care, and other activities; prepares required reports and documentation


• Explains canine capabilities and limitations to officers and other authorized personnel; assists with canine-related demonstrations, public education, and community events when assigned


• Conducts pre-tour inspections of the police vehicle and canine-related equipment to ensure readiness, including fuel, tire air pressure, warning sirens and lights, kennel ventilation and security systems, and other support equipment


• Investigates traffic accidents; uses measurement devices and eyewitness accounts, determines violations to be issued, assists motorists in the exchange of information, and provides information to insurance companies regarding accidents


• Serves criminal papers, warrants, and subpoenas; locates people indicted for crimes; and serves warrants, orders for arrest, and criminal summons


• Enforces speed limits through active patrol and monitors areas with frequent speeding; tracks people violating traffic laws, vehicle registration and inspection laws, and other traffic offenses


• Conducts criminal investigations by gathering information, processing crime scenes, and interviewing witnesses


• Responds to domestic situations and other calls for service; attempts to resolve conflict by recommending solutions


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Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Some knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, and procedures


• Some knowledge of departmental standard operating policies and procedures, and federal, state, and local laws and ordinances


• Knowledge of police canine handling principles, training methods, deployment practices, care, health, and safety requirements, or the ability to acquire such knowledge through approved training


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• Knowledge of practices, materials, techniques, and equipment pertinent to the job assignment, including canine-related equipment


• Skill in the use of firearms and other authorized law enforcement equipment, and in the safe handling and control of a police canine


• Ability and willingness to act quickly and properly in emergency situations and to make sound decisions regarding canine deployment


• Ability to maintain the physical conditioning, training, and operational readiness of an assigned canine


• Ability and willingness to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, other agencies, and the general public


• Ability to express thoughts clearly both orally and in written reports and to maintain accurate canine-related records


• Ability to safely perform the physical activities associated with patrol duties, canine care, training, and deployment

Physical Requirements

Work in this position is medium work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Employee must have the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, operate a computer terminal, and perform extensive reading. Employee may also be required to use sufficient physical force to subdue or restrain persons, including the use of lethal force, and to safely handle, control, transport, and deploy a police canine. Duties may require running, climbing, bending, kneeling, lifting, and working in varied terrain and weather conditions.

Working Conditions

Employee is exposed to inside and outside working conditions. Employee may be exposed to noise which would cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level; hazards including proximity to moving equipment; and atmospheric conditions which may affect the respiratory system. Work environment often includes persons with criminal records with little to no respect for law enforcement. The employee may also be exposed to risks associated with canine training and deployment, including bites, scratches, animal-related injuries, and exposure to environmental hazards. Precautions are required to minimize exposure to blood‑borne pathogens, communicable diseases, bodily harm, and risks to the assigned canine.

Education and Experience

Graduation from high school or GED equivalency. Some experience in law enforcement work is desired, and an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice is desirable. Prior patrol experience and demonstrated ability to work effectively with a police canine are preferred. Employee must be selected for assignment as a Police Canine Handler and successfully complete the department-approved canine handler training and certification process.

Special Requirements

• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License


• Must obtain and maintain Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification as a law enforcement officer by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, as required for continuous employment


• Must successfully complete and maintain the canine handler training and certification required by the department and applicable certifying organization


• Must maintain required canine team proficiency through ongoing training, evaluations, and recertification, as applicable


• Must comply with departmental policies and procedures governing canine care, training, deployment, documentation, and veterinary treatment


• Certification for radar and breathalyzer/intoxilyzer, as required for the underlying Police Officer assignment