Accuracy comparison of single-purpose and dual-purpose narcotic detection canines

• Published in: Applied animal behaviour science 2021-10, Vol.243, p.105434, Article 105434
• Main Authors: Rice, Brian L., Velasco, Joseph G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Canine false alert rate; Detection canine accuracy; Dual-purpose canine; Single-purpose canine
• ISSN: 0168-1591; 1872-9045
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105434

Law enforcement agencies have used police canines for many years to help combat the flow of illegal narcotics across the world. In many cases, narcotics detection canines can give the necessary probable cause needed to perform a search without a warrant. Case law has repeatedly approved the use of canines for this purpose if they are properly trained and certified, but defense attorneys still attack the accuracy of canines in an attempt to win their cases. Only a few studies have been completed that address the accuracy of narcotics detection canines and the results have varied widely. Studies conducted with narcotics detection canines focused on factors such as breed, sex, level of training, type of narcotics to be searched, and the area to be searched. No existing studies looked at any possible accuracy differences between single-purpose and dual-purpose narcotics detection canines. Single purpose canines are used for narcotics detection only, whereas dual-purpose canines are used for multiple tasks in addition to narcotics detection. The potential for accuracy differences between the two groups exists due to dual-purpose canines spending less time on narcotics training. The present study tested 40 narcotics detection canines, 20 single-purpose and 20 dual-purpose, to determine if there were any differences in accuracy. This study examined overall accuracy rates and false alert rates from canines during the testing procedure. The results indicated that accuracy rates of single-purpose and dual-purpose canines were undifferentiated [U(40) = 220.0, p = 0.598]. The results further indicated that false-alert rates of single-purpose and dual-purpose canines were undifferentiated [U(40) = 200.0, p = 0.598]. Finally, this study found that dual-purpose and single-purpose narcotics detection canines had a combined accuracy rate of 92.5%. •Single and dual-purpose canines had no significant difference in accuracy rates.•Single and dual-purpose canines had no significant difference in false alert rates.•Both single and dual-purpose canines had a combined accuracy rate of 92.5%•Both single and dual-purpose canines had a false alert rate of 10%.