Opinion ID: 901840
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Drug Detection Dog Reliability

Text: [¶ 20.] To conduct a warrantless search of a vehicle without consent, law enforcement officers must have probable cause. State v. Peterson, 407 N.W.2d 221, 223 (S.D.1987) (citations omitted). An indication by a reliable drug detection dog provides sufficient probable cause. Nguyen, 2007 SD 4, ¶ 22, 726 N.W.2d at 878; Lockstedt, 2005 SD 47, ¶ 11, 695 N.W.2d at 721; Chavez, 2003 SD 93, ¶ 30, 668 N.W.2d at 99. Whether a dog is reliable depends on an examination of the totality of the circumstances. Nguyen, 2007 SD 4, ¶ 20, 726 N.W.2d at 877. In making a determination of reliability, courts may consider a variety of elements, including such matters as the dog's training and certification, its successes and failures in the field, and the experience and training of the officer handling the dog. Id. [¶ 21.] In challenging Keya's reliability before the circuit court, defendant asserted that the dog failed to perform sufficiently in its testing scenarios and its false indications in the field showed that its proficiency level was as low as 36%, or possibly only as high as 45%. To support these arguments, defendant called drug dog expert, Robert Gonzalez. In Gonzalez's opinion, Keya was not properly trained or tested, and its record in the field indicated a substandard proficiency level. Rejecting these opinions, the circuit court found that Gonzalez had never been a canine handler for a civilian police agency, that he believed that the International Standard of Police Service Dogs, which is recognized by more than 60% of the world did not meet his standards or certification[,] and that other nationally recognized dog associations, mainly the North American Police Work Dog Association and the United States Police Dog Association did not meet his standards for certification.... The court found that the only standards that Gonzalez approved of would fall under the Department of Defense, yet when questioned, he could not provide a written or oral recitation of these standards. [¶ 22.] The State relied on the testimony and opinions of Sgt. Duis, who testified that Keya had passed its certification testing and was reliable. Under the totality of circumstances, these questions often come down to matters of credibility. Nguyen, 2007 SD 4, ¶ 20, 726 N.W.2d at 877. As one court wrote, [w]hen the evidence presented, whether testimony from the dog's trainer or records of the dog's training, establishes that the dog is generally certified as a drug detection dog, any other evidence, including the testimony of other experts, that may detract from the reliability of the dog's performance properly goes to the `credibility' of the dog. United States v. Diaz, 25 F.3d 392, 394 (6th Cir.1994). Here, in assessing Keya's credibility, the court found more compelling the credentials of Sergeant Duis and rejected the testimony of Mr. Gonzalez as his experience and qualifications were less relevant than that of Sergeant Duis. From our review of the record we cannot say that the court's findings were clearly erroneous or that its conclusions constituted legal error. [¶ 23.] Affirmed. [¶ 24.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and ZINTER, Justice, concur.