Narcotics Scenarios:
One of the following scenarios will be selected as part of certification. The evaluator or
designee will pick a number from a blind draw and all participants will use the same scenario.
Keep in mind there is more than one way to approach a problem. Be safe, be tactical, keep
current laws in mind, and always control your dog.
1. Scenario: You are called for assistance at a traffic stop. When you arrive the officer tells
you that he stopped the vehicle for a minor traffic infraction and when the suspects
stopped, they both exited the vehicle and ran in opposite directions. The officer tells you he
is pretty sure he saw the driver throw something as he ran away and shows you the general
area. The officer said he saw about where the passenger ran but did not see him throw
anything. Both suspects have been apprehended and taken to jail but have refused to say
anything. The evaluator is the traffic officer.
Set up: Possible drug hides in the vehicle and both areas where the suspects ran. Possible
distractor odor in the vehicle. Only narcotic training aides and distractor odor needed for
this exercise. After being briefed the handler should ask any questions he or she may have
and conduct a safety check of the area(s) to be searched. The handler should decide what
areas are to be searched and how and proceed keeping current case law in mind.
2. Scenario: You are called to assist the narcotics unit with a search warrant at a local drug
dealer’s residence. You are told the dealer always goes out of the back door when a
purchase is made then re-enters the residence and makes the hand to hand exchange at
the front door. There are two vehicles parked at the rear of the residence, one of which
belongs to the drug dealer. The informant has told the narcotics officers that he has
purchased several types of narcotics at this location in the past. The narcotics officer tells
you the search warrant is for the residence, the curtilage and the drug dealer’s vehicle. The
residence has been “cleared” prior to your arrival. The evaluator will act as the narcotics
officer.
Set up: Multiple drug hides both inside and outside the residence. Possible drug hides on
one or both vehicles. Multiple blank areas. Only narcotics training aides and distractor
odors needed for this exercise. No decoys needed and no equipment needed. Distractions
(odors and or disturbance) may be used. After being briefed the handler needs to ask any
questions he/she may have, and then conduct a safety check of the area to be searched.
The handler should decide how he/she is going to conduct the search and proceed keeping
current case law in mind.
3. Scenario: You have been called for assistance at a traffic stop. When you arrive the
officer tells you he suspects there are drugs in the vehicle and gives you his articulable
reasonable suspicion. The officer tells you he initially stopped the vehicle for littering after
the passenger threw some trash out of the window just after turning left onto the street
that you are on. The evaluator will act as the traffic officer.
Set up: Possible drug hide on suspect vehicle and/or area where trash was thrown out.
Two vehicles, two “suspects” and narcotics training aides needed for this exercise.
Distractions (odors and/or disturbance) may be used. After being briefed the handler needs
to ask any questions he/she may have and then precede providing assistance. The handler
should conduct a safety check of the areas to be searched and proceed keeping current
case law in mind.
4. Scenario: You are on routine patrol when you are dispatched to assist with a warrant
service at a residence. The residence is known to the department for providing frequent
flyers to the county detention center. The warrant was for a particular individual and
he/she answers the door. You as a K-9 handler are on standby because the narcotics
officer has advised that he has recovered narcotics from the house in the recent past. The
narcotics officer advises you over the radio that he has consent to search and has the
suspect in custody. The evaluator is the narcotics officer.
Set up: Possible drug hide and/or distractors (odors or disturbance) in the residence.
Suspect may limit what areas can be searched or rescind the consent. One suspect and
narcotics training aides needed. After being briefed the handler should ask any questions
he/she may have then begin. The handler should conduct a safety check of the area to be
searched and proceed with the search keeping current case law in mind.
5. Scenario: You were called to a local park to assist the narcotics unit. When you arrive the
narcotics officer tells you that as he approached the area saw a person with a “cigarette” in
each hand. He said when the person saw him he turned and started to walk away. The
narcotics officer tells you he called out to the person and asked him to come back to speak
with him and the person complied. The officer tells you when the person returned he only
had one “cigarette”. When the person is identified he is known to sell drugs in the area,
particularly marijuana cigarettes but he is known to sell other drugs as well. The evaluator
is the narcotics officer.
Setup: One or more drug hides and distractors in an open area. Distractions could be
other odors and/or people in the area. One suspect and narcotics training aides needed for
this exercise. After being briefed the handler should ask any questions he or she may have
then begin the search. The handler should conduct a safety check of the area to be
searched prior to deploying K9.