The Arcata Police Department is proud to have 2 canine officers on the force. The current canines are trained in searching for suspects, both indoors and outdoors, and trained and certified in handler protection and suspect apprehension. In the past, the department also had canines trained in narcotics detection.
The training of canines and their handlers is a rigorous process, requiring countless hours of schooling, training and continual practice. During training, the officer and canine develop a close bond and confidence in each other. This ensures that upon completion of the training process the officer-canine team are able to successfully function under almost all stressful and non-stressful law enforcement conditions.
