All K-9’s must find marijuana and cocaine to certify. Other narcotics are optional to certify on.

There will be two (2) hides of each narcotic in each given area.

Marijuana—Minimum amount to be used is one fourth (1/4) ounce per hide. Maximum amount to be used is two (2) ounces per hide.

Cocaine—Minimum amount to be used is five (5) grams per hide. Maximum amount to be used is twenty-eight (28) grams per hide.

Optional narcotic may be, but is not limited to Heroin, met amphetamine, or Opium. For these optional narcotics the quantities will vary. No pseudo shall be used.

Example: A certifying official may hide one (1) stash with five (5) grams and the second hide must weigh a minimum of five (5) grams and up to a maximum of twenty-eight (28) grams. It is the official’s decision on how much each of the hides will contain, as long as he or she remains within the minimum and maximum amounts set out in the certification standards.

Each handler is responsible for notifying the judges of the type of alert (aggressive or passive), the judges can expect.

It will be the judge’s decision as to when the search shall be terminated.

I. Interior Building

The building search shall be interior in nature and shall be realistic to a narcotic search setting. If more than one (1) narcotic is being used, areas shall be at least twenty-five feet (25) apart or in different rooms separated by closed doors.

II. Exterior Vehicles:

The vehicle search shall be exterior in nature, one hide per vehicle. One exterior vehicle and at least one blank vehicle will be searched, but they must be at least twenty-five (25) feet apart.

III. For this exercise, envelopes, boxes, luggage, packages, etc., shall be placed in a row of at least five (5) feet apart and contain no less than five (5) pieces, nor more than ten (10) pieces shall be used. One (1) hide per exercise only shall be used. Exercise may be repeated.

IV. Each of the three (3) search areas shall be used at least one (1) time during certification. Any or all of the exercises may be repeated as necessary in order to certify on each narcotic.

V. If a female is in season when attempting to certify, the K-9 team will work last after all other teams have completed their exercises.

SECTION 5                     SUBSTITUTIONS

There will be no contaminated substitutions during certification. Example: A K-9 team is in the certification area the K-9 gives a positive alert, the handler substitutes the K-9 with only a non-narcotic contaminated substitute. A contaminated substitute might be a ball or towel scented with marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or any other narcotic.

SECTION 6                     FAILURE OF CERTIFICATION

There will be a thirty (30) day waiting period to attempt to certify again.

SECTION 7                     RULING OF CERTIFYING                OFFICIALS

All rulings by the certifying officials are final.

SECTION 8                     CERTIFYING OFFICIALS

Either a WVPCA Judge or a Regional Certifying Official may certify a K-9 team. There may be more than one (1) of these officials at any certification but only (1) is required for certification. That may not certify any K-9 trained by a certifying official on the first (1^st) certification.

SECTION 9                      QUALIFICATIONS OF A K-9 HANDLER TO ATTEMPT CERTIFICATION

The handler shall be a full time certified law enforcement officer, full time certified correctional officer, and full time certified conservation officer or full time certified Public Service Commission K-9 Officer. The handler must be in good standing the WVPCA when attempting to certify.

SECTION 10                         FEES FOR CERTIFICATION

The fee for certification is twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each single purpose team attempting to certify, thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for all dual purpose canines.