Job Title:                  Certified K9 Handler

Wage/Hour Status:  Nonexempt

Department:              Assigned Campus (es)

Reports To:               Superintendent of Schools

Approved By:             Board of Trustees

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SUMMARY:

Patrols district property to protect all students, personnel, and visitors from physical harm and prevent property loss due to theft or vandalism. Enforces all laws including municipal ordinances, county ordinances, and state laws.

Works independently, but not limited to locating individuals, contrabrand and apprehending criminal offenders.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

EDUCATION:

• High school diploma or GED
• Two (2) years’ experience as a Peace Officer immediately preceding the date of application;
• Application for employment should reflect any increases in responsibilities during previous or current employment.
• Bilingual is preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

Background in law enforcement or related work experience

Five years experience as police officer preferred

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Applicant must possess a current Peace Officer Certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education;
• Applicant must have a current valid Texas operator’s driver’s license;
• Must be able to be insured by the Donna ISD insurance carrier.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions, departmental policy, rules, regulations and laws;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other Donna ISD employees and officials, law enforcement agencies and the general public;
• Ability to analyze situations and adopt a quick, effective and reasonable course of action;
• Ability to write clear and concise reports and to maintain complete records as required;
• Ability to learn the use and care of vehicles, firearms, and specialized equipment;
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing;
• Ability to solve basic mathematic problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division;
• Ability to use decimals and percentages in solving such problems;
• Ability to speak, read and write the English language;
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals;
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence;
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of employees or organizations;
• Ability to also speak and write in Spanish preferred;
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardized exists;
• Ability to interpret a variety of instruction furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Employee may be assigned other duties in addition to those listed; duties may change according to the changing needs to the County.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Depending on the area of criminal enforcement to which assigned, may perform any of the following duties:

Canine handler shall ultimately be responsible for the health and welfare of the canine and shall ensure that the canine receives proper nutrition, grooming, training, medical care, affection and living conditions.

Canine handler will be responsible for the following:

1. Except as required during appropriate deployment, the handler shall not expose the canine to any foreseeable and unreasonable risk of harm.
2. The handler shall maintain all department equipment under his/her control in a clean and serviceable condition.
3. Handlers shall permit a supervisor to conduct spontaneous on-site inspections of affected areas of their homes as well as their canine vehicles, to verify that conditions and equipment conform to policy.
4. Any changes in living status of the handler that may affect the lodging or environment of the canine shall be reported to supervisor as soon as possible.
5. When off duty the canine shall be in a kennel provided by District at the home of the When canine is kenneled at the handler’s home, the gate shall be secured with a lock. When off-duty, the canine may be let of kennel while under the direct supervision and control of the handler.
6. Canine should be permitted to socialize in the home with the handler’s family for short periods of time with the direct supervision and control of handler.
7. Under no circumstances will canine be housed at another lodging unless approved by a supervisor.
8. When off duty the handler shall not involve the canine in any law enforcement activity or official conduct unless approved in advance by a supervisor

CANINE IN PUBLIC AREAS:

1. Canine shall not be left unattended in any area to which the public may have access.
2. When canine is in vehicle all windows and doors shall be secured in a manner that prevents unauthorized access to canine.
3. It shall be the handler’s responsibility to coordinate with the public in order to minimize the risk of unintended injury.
4. Handler’s shall not demonstrate any apprehension work unless authorized to do so by a supervisor
5. Then canine handler shall have the authority to decline a request for any specific assignment that he/she deems unsuitable.

Training:

Before field assignment, each canine team shall be trained and certified to meet current nationally recognized standards or other recognized and approved certification standards. All canine training shall be conducted while on- duty unless otherwise approved by supervisor. Each team shall thereafter be recertified to a current nationally recognized standards or other recognized and approved certification standards on an annual basis. Canine handlers are encouraged to engage in additional training with the approval of supervisor. To ensure that all training is consistent, no handler, trainer or outside vendor is authorized to train to a standard that is not reviewed and approved by the department. FAILURE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE TRAINING or obtain certification shall not be deployed in that field for tasks the team is not certified to perform until graduation or certification is achieved. When reasonably practicable, pending successful certification, the canine handler shall be temporarily reassigned to regular patrol duties.

HANDLER SELECTION:

• Resides in an adequately fenced, single family residence (minimum 5-foot-high fence with locking gates);
• Living within 30 minutes travel time from the Donna ISD District jurisdiction;
• Agreeing to be assigned to the position for a minimum of two years.

ASSIGNMENT:

Canine teams should be assigned to assist and supplement the Patrol Division to function primarily in assist or cover assignments. However, they may be assigned by supervisor to other functions, such as routine calls for service, based on current operational needs. Canine teams should generally not be assigned to handle routine matters that will take them out of service for extended periods of time and then only with the approval of a supervisor.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from administrators, teachers, students, parents, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to apply basic concepts of algebra and geometry. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical, diagram or schedule form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Occasional absences are understood but regular attendance is required.

While performing the duties of this job, strenuous walking, standing, and climbing is required.  Specific hearing  and visual requirements are included. Ability to operate a motor vehicle is required. The employee must be able to control sudden violent or extreme physical acts of others and exhibit rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. This employee may be subject to adverse and hazardous working conditions, including violent and armed confrontations. Moderate to heavy lifting and carrying is required. The employee must maintain emotional control under stress.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Salary : $22 - $32