This will be a K9 certification course in narcotics and patrol service dog through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA).

The class will begin at noon on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 and end with a competition on Thursday March 26, 2015 at 2:00 PM.

Captain Richard Chandler has been with the Southaven Police Department for twelve years. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2014 after serving as a patrol officer and K-9 handler for the department.  He has also been a member of the Southaven Police Department SWAT team since 2003. 

He has participated on the SWAT team as a sniper and also as a team leader and conducted operations such as barricade subjects, hostage situations, and search warrants. He has assisted with the instruction of several basic SWAT schools and tactical deployments.  His current assignment is the assistant  team leader for the entry team and oversees the operations and training of the snipers for the SWAT team.

Captain Richard Chandler successfully completed a 320 hour Dual Purpose Police Dog Trainers Course through Vohne Liche Kennels in spring of 2011. Since that time he has instructed several basic police K-9 handler schools.  He currently oversees the training for the Southaven Police Department K-9 Division and also assists in the weekly training of several K-9 Units in Mississippi and west Tennessee.  In 2013 Captain Richard Chandler interviewed successfully to be a certifying official for the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association. He is also a certifying official for American Working Dog. Both of these are national organizations. 

MLEOA will provide lodging to all participants needing such and will provide some of the meals during the training.  Participants needing lodging will need to contact the hotel listed below to make reservations.