http://tacticalk9usa.com

TAC Team retains and utilizes the services and expertise of highly-respected law enforcement and law enforcement-related individuals with various backgrounds to assist its efforts and works with current operators, K9 handlers and team leaders to provide first-class training to prepare for today's deployments, calls for service and supervisory considerations.   TAC Team's training philosophy is geared toward reducing risk, limiting liability and staying current with tactics and case law so that each training attendee will be safe and have the proper mindset to prevail in the real world.

(Pictured above: Team members lift police K9 to roof to begin a long line/controlled search for a suspect during a "Tactical K9 Deployments with SWAT" training scenario.)

We know law enforcement training budgets today are tight, restricted, and many are being cut.  However, updated and ongoing training must continue, particularly perishable skills and critical tactical tasks.  Attorney Martin J. Mayer sent a client memo to police chiefs and sheriffs in California addressing the obligation to provide training to law enforcement officers even when there is a cut back to training funds;

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"The duty to train officers is unaffected by reimbursement sources.  The lack of funding from outside sources does not, in any way, relieve a department of its obligation to train its officers.  The decision to eliminate training programs or reduce the amount of training, based upon the lack of reimbursement sources, would most likely be viewed, by a court, as deliberate indifference to the rights of others."

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Training and Consulting [TAC] Team provides contemporary training geared to not only make the job safer, more efficient and to limit liability, but we also provide training that is affordable and reasonable.  Be sure to check the sections below regarding "On-Site Training" and "Customized Courses" for additional information.

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"Things that go wrong in life are predictable and predictable is preventable."

- Gordon Graham (President, Lexipol)

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Courses currently being offered from TAC Team

Being consistent, making good decisions and keeping proper documentation will limit your liability and make you a better K9 handler and K9 supervisor.

This class is the most comprehensive one-day liability course now being offered.  It is recommended for and serves as an essential phase for the K9 handler and K9 supervisor to assist in preparing for their potential “legal defense” and prevailing in the event of a lawsuit by examining TAC Team's “360 Degrees of Responsibility” involving a police service dog assigned to patrol and/or a tactical team.  The instructor is Sergeant Bill Lewis II (Retired) and he openly shares his past and present personal experiences as a handler, K9 supervisor and expert witness.

Handlers, K9 supervisors, K9 administrators, trainers and SWAT team leaders (who deploy with K9 teams) from the same agency are encouraged to attend together so that everyone involved with their respective police dog program can learn information and hear recommendations simultaneously so everyone leaves with a better understanding of each other's duties and responsibilities.

Participants will benefit from the firsthand experiences of the instructor as well as other handlers and supervisors involved with K9 as some cases and incidents not found in "case law updates" are reviewed and lessons learned shared.  The class will include information and discussions about some case law, department policy, operational manual, use of force, selection/retention, training, documentation, statistics, deployments, debriefs, evidence collection/retention, report writing, and discipline.  The class may include a scenario-based deployment exercise to be used as part of the report writing section.   Information shared may also assist to maintain or justify the retention of your K9 program during budget "cutback" considerations in these tough economic times.

Scheduled classes:

February 23, 2012 - Whittier, California. Hosted by Whittier Police Department.  Tuition is $95.00.  Class limit is 36.  To make a reservation or receive a course announcement, contact Bill Lewis II at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it     SORRY - THIS CLASS IS FULL.

May 9, 2012 - Frisco, Colorado. Hosted by Summit County Sheriff's Office. Tuition is $95.00.  To make a reservation or receive more information, contact Bill Lewis II at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

May 21, 2012 - Corona, California. Hosted by Corona Police Department. Tuition is $95.00. To make a reservation or receive more information, contact Bill Lewis II at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

July 18, 2012 - Carlsbad, California. Hosted by Carlsbad Police Department. Tuition is $95.00.  Class limit is 40.  To make a reservation or receive more information, contact Bill Lewis II at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Previous "360" classes;  Paso Robles, California (Oct 17, 2011), Flagstaff, Arizona (Aug 29, 2011), Henderson, Nevada (Aug 24, 2011), Modesto, California (Aug 15, 2011), Norwalk, Connecticut (Apr 5, 2011), Corona, California (Feb 1, 2011), Chicago, Illinois (Oct 28, 2010), South Euclid, Ohio (Oct 26, 2010), Cape Coral, Florida (Oct 12, 2010), Buena Park, California (May 19, 2010), West Covina, California (May 18, 2010) and Oxnard, California (Mar 28, 2007).

This class is offered with free tuition allocated for a host agency, organization, association or K9 Unit.  Contact Bill Lewis II at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Photo by Phil Geisler (TAC Team Instructor)

HRK9E:  "High Risk K9 Entries"

This 2-day class is recommended for K9 handlers, patrol personnel and tactical operators who want to incorporate more proficient and safer tactical movements into their high risk entries using a police service dog within a tactical environment with patrol and/or tactical teams.  The class will focus on the four critical phases of an operation using a police dog; training, mindset, planning, and deployment. Participants will attend a 3-hour classroom session on the first day followed by practical and scenario-based exercises with and without police dogs.  (Offered as a 2-day 20-hour course or 3-day 30-hour course)

• K9 team and patrol (or tactical) personnel will work together to locate a hidden suspect during a high risk deployment, demonstrate coordinated team movement, and take a suspect into custody using proper officer safety techniques
• Participants will learn the tactics and mindset needed to safely enter a room to search for and arrest a high risk suspect with or without a police dog.