[directive] In-service training is necessary for K-9 patrol teams and K-9 specialty teams to maintain proficiency in basic skills and to ensure continued effective performance.  After initially qualifying as a K-9 patrol team or K-9 specialty team, the police officer handler and police dog team must at a minimum be re-evaluated semi-annually.  During this re- evaluation, K-9 patrol teams and K-9 specialty teams must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of a K-9 trainer or supervising K-9 trainer, their ability to perform basic skills.  K-9 patrol team re-evaluation must cover obedience, agility, scent work, criminal apprehension and handler protection skills.  K-9 specialty team re-evaluations must concentrate on obedience, agility, and scent work.  K-9 patrol teams and K-9 specialty teams must complete in-service field training exercises in order to maintain skills which must be performed during re-evaluations.  In- service training must be conducted a minimum of 4 times annually in addition to the canine team’s re-evaluations.  While it would be beneficial to conduct such training monthly, the frequency of such training is at the discretion of the agency executive.  As a component of in-service training, classroom instruction must be given at least annually by a certified K-9 trainer or Supervising K-9 trainer to provide police officer handlers with a review and update of policies, applicable statutes and case law, and court rules which are relevant to K-9 operations.  In-service training and re-evaluation records should include information concerning the content of the training or re-evaluation program, who participated in the training or re-evaluation, when and where the training or re-evaluation took place, and who instructed the training or conducted the K-9 team re-evaluation.  7 7/2002 K-9 Training Standards and Qualification Requirements  In-service training for K-9 patrol teams and K-9 specialty teams must be conducted by K-9 trainers or supervising K-9 trainers who satisfy the criteria established herein or other persons determined to be qualified to offer instruction in areas deemed appropriate by the K-9 trainer or the Supervising K-9 trainer.  While K-9 trainers or supervising trainers are responsible for the overall in-service training, specialists should be utilized, as appropriate, to conduct specialty training in their areas of expertise.  Training by specialists or other instructors shall be at the discretion of the K-9 trainer or supervising K-9 trainer, with the approval of the agency executive.  Semi-annual re-evaluations must be conducted at a training site or facility which satisfies the requirements described herein.  When appropriate, K-9 team re- evaluations must take place under conditions which are similar to those which exist during actual assignments or when otherwise deployed or utilized.  In-service field training exercises and classroom instruction may be conducted at a training site which satisfies the established criteria or some other location deemed appropriate by the supervising K-9 trainer or K-9 trainer.  The semi-annual re-evaluation standard represents the minimum requirements necessary to maintain basic skills and does not preclude departments or agencies from conducting additional re-evaluation exercises.  Agencies are, in fact, encouraged to conduct in-service training as often as possible and to engage in re-evaluation exercises beyond the minimum required, including training and/or certification by police K-9 organizations or associations.  INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS