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POST plans regulatory review of canine apprehension training amid AB 400 proposals
Summary
POST staff proposed a regulatory review and updated minimum training standards and course content for law‑enforcement apprehension canines in response to recent legislation (AB 400) and published guideline changes.
POST staff told the advisory committee they are preparing a regulatory review of canine apprehension training and supervisor coursework to align existing guidance with recently revised canine guidelines and proposed legislation.
What was presented: Michael Dalistay, law enforcement consultant with POST's Management Counseling and Projects Bureau, said POST republished canine guidelines in March 2025 (last revised 2014) and that a legislative proposal, AB 400, "seeks to enhance oversight for law enforcement canine program programs by mandating standardized training protocols and reporting requirements." Dalistay said a meta‑analysis was proposed to establish minimum training standards and course content for canine handlers and supervisors with an emphasis on apprehension techniques.
Why it matters: Dalistay and participants said standardizing minimum content and instructor requirements could improve program consistency and oversight; the advisory committee discussed who would be considered a "supervisor" for canine operations (assigned program coordinator vs. every shift sergeant) and whether update requirements and trainer certification would be mandatory for current canine handlers.
Field questions and POST response: Committee members asked whether existing canine officers would be "grandfathered" and how many canine schools exist statewide. POST staff said new regulations often include grandfathering and that the agency would likely include update requirements (e.g., periodic refreshers) and a trainer‑certification or train‑the‑trainer model to bring current handlers into compliance over time.
Next steps: POST plans to use the recently revised guidelines as a starting point for the meta‑analysis, solicit field input on who should be designated as the program supervisor, and identify the training standard (regulation 10.84 and related course minimum content) to be adopted or amended.
Ending: The advisory committee expressed support for an update and urged attention to deliverable details — update frequency, who must attend supervisor modules, and options for train‑the‑trainer programs and in‑service refreshers. No formal regulatory vote occurred at the advisory meeting.
