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E.P.P. 061 LONGWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT POLICY & PROCEDURE NUMBER: EPP – 61 SUBJECT: THE COMFORT CANINE PROGRAM EFFECTIVE: SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 REVISED: JANUARY 1, 2024 ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE THE COMFORT CANINE PROGRAM EPP – 61 Page 1 of 5 I. PURPOSE: Longwood Police officers strive to build positive relationships with all members of the community. One of the goals of school resource officers is to develop a good rapport with students and staff at the schools through positive interaction and improved communication. The Comfort Canine Program is a resource that will assist with establishing these relationships. II. SCOPE: A. The Longwood Policed Department has a Comfort Canine Program utilized by school resource officers, primarily, at their assigned schools. B. The comfort canine team will be available at their assigned school and for various community events and citizen needs when requested. C. The Comfort Canine Program is a resource utilized to improve relationships between law enforcement and citizens. Specifically, the program focuses on assisting students, especially those who are at- risk or with special needs, by reducing stress and anxiety while supporting those who struggle with social interaction skills. III. DEFINITIONS: A. Canine: A working dog trained to execute specific law enforcement and public safety tasks. B. Comfort Canine: A therapy canine specifically trained for positive interactions with people in the community and at local schools. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE THE COMFORT CANINE PROGRAM EPP – 61 Page 2 of 5 C. Comfort Canine Officer: A police officer assigned as a school resource officer who has been assigned a comfort canine and received agency approved comfort canine training. D. Comfort Canine Team: A comfort canine officer and comfort canine assigned to the Comfort Canine Program. E. Paws and Stripes Program: A program that obtains canines from Brevard County Animal Services and provides therapy canine training for several types of services including veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and for law enforcement officers assisting citizens with therapeutic and comfort needs. F. Comfort Canine Supervisor: A supervisor assigned to supervise the school resource officers. IV. AUTHORIZATION AND TRAINING: A. Comfort canines and all related training are provided to the agency through the Paws and Stripes Program. B. Only members authorized by the chief, or designee, are authorized to use a comfort canine. C. Comfort canine teams must successfully complete agency approved comfort canine training prior to being utilized. D. Comfort canine teams will successfully complete agency approved annual comfort canine re- certification training. V. COMFORT CANINE DEPLOYMENTS AND LIMITATIONS A. Deployments of comfort canines are at the discretion of the comfort canine officer and will include input from the comfort canine supervisor. B. Comfort canine officers will maintain proper control over the comfort canine at all times to ensure the safety of the canine, officers and the public. While maintaining control by voice commands is permissible, controlling the canine with a leash should be considered especially when in large crowds or unsecured areas. C. Comfort canine officers are responsible for evaluating the location and surroundings to determine the environment is safe and suitable for a deployment. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE THE COMFORT CANINE PROGRAM EPP – 61 Page 3 of 5 D. The comfort canine officer will utilize the comfort canine at the school during normal school hours and during school related events when requested by the school administration and approved by the comfort canine supervisor. E. The comfort canine officer will utilize the comfort canine at community events or when there is a citizen need when requested and approved by the comfort canine supervisor. F. A comfort canine is assigned for comfort canine purposes only and will not be used for suspect apprehensions, missing person searches, drug detection, crowd control or any other enforcement efforts. G. Civilians will not be transported in a vehicle with a comfort canine unless separated by a separate prisoner compartment, other barrier or kennel. H. The comfort canine officer will take precautions to ensure citizens with canine related allergies are kept away from the comfort canine. VI. COMFORT CANINE REPORTING PROCEDURES A. Use of comfort canines will be documented by the comfort canine officer utilizing the comfort canine deployment report. All completed reports will be maintained by the supervisor of the comfort canine team. B. The comfort canine officer will ensure copies of all comfort canine advanced training certificates are forwarded for the agency training records. Agency comfort canine training will be documented by the comfort canine officer utilizing the comfort canine training report. All completed training reports will be maintained by the supervisor of the comfort canine team. VII. COMFORT CANINE CARE A. Comfort Canine officers are ultimately responsible for the care and well-being of their assigned comfort canines while on and off duty. B. Comfort canine officers will be allotted one hour each work day for canine care and maintenance. The comfort canine officer’s schedule will be adjusted for this care and maintenance hour which will not be calculated as overtime. C. Comfort canines will have access to food and water and will be kept in an environment to protect the comfort canine from extreme climate conditions. D. Comfort canines will not be left unattended in a vehicle unless the vehicle is equipped with a properly functioning climate control alarm and the comfort canine is physically checked by the comfort canine officer on a frequent basis. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE THE COMFORT CANINE PROGRAM EPP – 61 Page 4 of 5 E. Comfort canine officers will take precautions to protect their comfort canines from hazardous materials and unsafe conditions. F. Comfort canines will be groomed and bathed regularly so that the comfort canine is always clean in appearance. G. The comfort canine officer will ensure the comfort canine is fit for duty, completes all necessary health related treatments and not in need of medical care. 1. The comfort canine officer will submit necessary requests and make appropriate notifications to address comfort canine care issues. H. Veterinary services will only be provided by an agency approved veterinary service after pre-approval by the comfort canine officer’s chain of command. 1. Exception: emergencies requiring the use of a different veterinary service must be pre- approved by the chief of police or designee. I. The comfort canine team will be provided with the following equipment: 1. Canine collar 2. Canine Leash/ lead(s) 3. Grooming supplies 4. Canine toys 5. Food and water supplies 6. Kennel 7. Vehicle canine transportation mat VIII. CITIZEN INJURY A. If a comfort canine injures a citizen, the comfort canine officer will: 1. Provide first aid consistent with training and summons emergency medical services. 2. Arrange for the citizen’s transportation to a local hospital; if necessary. 3. Make notifications to the comfort canine officer’s chain of command. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE THE COMFORT CANINE PROGRAM EPP – 61 Page 5 of 5 4. Document the incident on a CJIS report in CAFE. a. The report will include, at a minimum, all pertinent event details to include a summary of incident, a witness list, injury description with photo images of the injuries and the officer’s efforts to assist the injured. 5. Not make any statements as to who is responsible for the injuries.