Police Canine Team Certification

No state, county, or municipal agency, and no state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer may use a canine to perform or assist with the performance of the specialities set forth in SDCL 23-3-35-4, unless the canine and its handler are certified by the commission as a canine team. Once certified, a canine team must must renew their certification annually.

A law enforcement agency may apply to the commission for issuance of certification for a canine team. Upon receipt of the application, the commission will designate a canine judge or canine evaluator to conduct the evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, the canine judge or evaluator will submit the evaluation and results to the commission. The commission will then furnish a copy to the requesting agency.

The commission issues a SD canine team certificate to a canine team upon successful completion of all certification requirements and upon receipt of an evaluation signed by a commission approved canine judge or evaluator.