CERTIFICATIONS

DRUGBEAT certifying officials may certify a handler and dog team to any federal, state, department, or agency standard as long as the standard meets or exceeds the DRUGBEAT certification standard for that area of certification.  The qualifying standards must be submitted to the certifying official in advance so they can review and approve the standard to be tested.  Certifying officials will maintain a copy of any standards other than DRUGBEAT standards that are used for certification purposes.

YOU MUST USE REAL EXPLOSIVES ODORS IN EACH CERTIFICATION.  DRUGBEAT DOES NOT ENDORSE PSEUDO-SCENTS FOR EXPLOSIVE DETECTION CERTIFICATION.

DRUGBEAT EXPLOSIVES DETECTION CERTIFICATION STANDARDS (as of 11-1-20)

TYPE OF EXPLOSIVES TO BE USED FOR CERTIFICATION

All K-9s must find the SEVEN main explosives to certify. EXPLOSIVES TO BE USED ARE (PETN)  (RDX or C-4) –(TNT)– (BLACK AND SMOKLESS GUN POWDERS)–(-AMMONIA NITRATE)(- TNT)  Other explosives are optional to the certifying agent and handler. (Potassium Chlorate, DYNAMITE & Etc.  The type of Explosives is to be determined prior to the test.  There shall be only 1 stash of each Explosive type used. Amounts to be used in weights. 8 oz  up  to 3 lbs

ALERTS

Each handler is responsible for explaining to the certifying agent of the type of alert that the K-9 can be expected to do before the test begins.  The K-9 must alert without prompting from the handler and NO directing from the certifying agent in any way other than to explain the location to be searched. The alert must be a passive alert. HE WILL SiT OR DOWN FOR THE ALERT. The K-9 must alert within a reasonable distance from the stash. Three Feet or closer is suggested  NO aggressive alerts are accepted,  (biting or scratching or jumping)

TIME

There will be a time limit of ten (10) minutes to find each explosive stash.  If needed, the K-9 will then be allowed a rest period of fifteen (15) minutes, and will begin another search period to locate additional explosive stashes. The handler and certifying agent should determine this.                                                         

SEARCH AREA

The search area will consist of one (1) small room per stash. No two hides in one small area.  Two or three vehicles.  At least one of the vehicles must be blank (contain no explosive odors) and one vehicle must contain an explosives stash.  .  . All explosive will be hidden by the certifying agent.

FAILURE OF CERTIFICATION

The handler will have ninety (90) days to recertify before additional charges will be assessed.  The odors to be recertified on will be the explosive odors the K-9 team has missed on the first test only.

CERTIFYING OFFICIALS

The certifying officials shall be an agent appointed by Clay Smith  and the adviser committee of Drug Beat K-9 Certifications.  There can be more than one of these officials at any certification, but only the main certifying agent shall sign the papers.  All rulings from the certifying official are final.  No exceptions.

QUALIFICATION OF A K-9 HANDLER TO BE CERTIFIED

The handler shall be a law enforcement agent or employee of a police department and/or an employee of a private security, investigative or detection service licensed within the state they are located, if licensing is required by law in that state. He must have no less than 80 hours of K-9 explosive handler training.

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