Frequently Asked Questions -
My Opinions

Do you know of any good web sites that deal with Law Enforcement?

I'm going to give you the URL for the Law Enforcement Links page that I put together for my K-9 Sari Memorial page. Look at the "Other Law Enforcement and Related Sites" section toward the bottom. There are several links that will lead you to bunches more. In particular, try CopNet, Law Enforcement Sites on the Web, and The Police Officers' Internet Directory. The URL is: http://rosspd.net/lelinks.html.

Also, if you are interested in any K-9 pages, look at the links on my K-9 Sari Memorial page at: http://rosspd.net/.

I am a cadet in a police academy. With only a month to go, I am starting the job hunt. Could you please send the information I need to get started in your application process?

Ross Township issues and accepts applications for the position of Police Officer only after the Township announces they will be testing for this position.

A hiring list is established after the testing and the list is then good for two years.

You may also want to try the City of Pittsburgh Police at 412-255-2388 or the Pittsburgh Housing Authority Police at 412-456-5085, both hire often.

Do you think the experience that I have gotten as a Police Officer in the military will help me pursue a career with a department a little easier?

Yes, it is good experience and civilian police work is quasi-military, so military experience in general is good and Military Police experience is even better. Also, the veterans points sure don't hurt at all when you are testing for a police position!

I am an active duty K-9 handler with the US Air Force. I will be separating from the military in a few months. I am seeking a career in K-9 law enforcement. If you have any information that can assist me I would appreciate it.

Having the military K-9 experience will help greatly but first you need to get hired as a regular officer by a department. I don't know of anyone that has been hired directly into a K-9 position without prior law enforcement officer experience. So look for a department that already has a K-9 Unit or a good potential to start one, which is a gamble. But if you get on a department and get experience, you can usually move to another department later. Our department only accepts applications after they announce a test.

I would really like to become a K-9 officer but I realize most departments require some years of service before someone can apply for those positions. Is this always true?

It really depends on the individual department and the individual officer. Generally, yes, you need to have several years in law enforcement to gain the knowledge of how to work as a regular officer before taking on the added responsibilities and duties involved in K-9 work. However, usually there is no set time unless the department requires a set number of years before you can apply. My department does not have a set time requirement but the characteristics of an officer and his/her experience and abilities are some of the main criteria that is looked at for selection.

Some of the selection criteria for K-9 handlers are:

Dedication

Highly Determined / Strives to Do Best Possible / Self-Motivated

Available for Call-Outs or Additional Work Hours

Dependable / On Time / No Excessive Sick Time / Completes Assignments in a Timely Manner

Devotion

If Married, Spouse in Agreement / Stable Family Environment / Family Wants Dog

Compatibility Between Handler and Dog

Experience

Street-Sense / Common-Sense

Able to Work with Minimum Supervision

Public Speaking Ability

Good Driving Habits

Desire for Rigorous Duty

Healthy / Physically Fit and Capable

Above Average Personal Hygiene and Living Conditions

Willing to Forego Promotional Chances or Other Advancements

Assignment to K-9 is a Long-Term Committment

Where can I go to school or to a police academy to become a K-9 cop? Are there any in the Pittsburgh area?

Before you can be a K-9 Officer, you need to become a regular police officer. So the question should be, "Where can I go to school or to a police academy to become a police officer?" In the Pittsburgh area, there are two main training schools you can attend to earn state certification as a police officer (which is referred to as Act 120 certification). They are the Allegheny County Police Training Academy in North Park and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in Indiana, PA. In other areas or states, check with your local police departments to find the local training academies or schools and their requirements.

Once you are certified, then you must apply to departments which interest you and are accepting applications and go through their testing procedures. A few departments will allow you to apply and test for police officer positions without being certified. These are usually the very large departments like the City of Pittsburgh PD. If you are hired by one of those departments, the department will pay you while you attend the training academy, which you must successfully complete to keep your job.

After you have obtained a police officer position, be prepared to serve several years as a regular officer before you are considered for a K-9 position. This is normal as you must first master all of the regular police knowledge, skills and abilities before you take on the added duties and responsibilities of a K-9 Officer. When you have been selected as a new K-9 Handler, it will be up to your department to decide where they will send you for K-9 training. Also, when you go through K-9 training, you and your dog train to work together as a team, so you will have your dog before you are sent to K-9 training.

It's a long road to get to where you want to be, but once you're there, it's well worth it!!!

Can you pick your own dog to work with?

Does the dog have to be a certain breed?

How long does the training take?

After training will it take long to find a job?

How much is the basic salary for a K-9 cop?

Where does the dog go at night? Can it go home with you?

Please send me some K-9 book titles, the authors, and publishers. The more I can learn the better.

Here are some book titles that you may be interested in:

"Police Dog Tactics" by Sandy Bryson (pub: McGraw-Hill - 1996) (new and very good!);

"K9 Officer's Manual" by R.S. Eden (pub: Detselig Enterprises Ltd. - 1993) (very good K-9 patrol tactics and techniques book);

"Dog Training For Law Enforcement" by R.S. Eden (pub: Detselig Enterprises Ltd. - 1985) (getting dated but still good training book);

"Establish and Maintain a Successful Canine Program: A Managerial Guide for Law Enforcement" by Jack E. Ellis (pub: Jack E. Ellis - 1990) (a small book but has a lot of good info);

"How To Train Dogs For Police Work" by Jay Rapp (pub: Denlinger's Publishers, Ltd. - 1979) (dated but has some good info and illustrations);

"Police Dogs In North America" by Samuel G. Chapman (pub: Charles C. Thomas - 1990) (a great resource book on the history of K-9 programs and usage);

"How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend" by The Monks of New Skete (pub: Little, Brown and Company - 1978) (a good book for anyone who owns or trains dogs).

Most or all of these books can be purchased from Ray Allen Manufacturing who put out a police work dog equipment catalog, call them at 800-444-0404 or visit their Web site at http://www.rayallen.com/.

Another good source for dog books is The Dog and Cat Book Catalog from Direct Book Service. Their telephone number is 800-776-2665 or visit their Web site at http://www.dogandcatbooks.com/.