Long

Facts The Exeter Police Department’s K9 Program The City of Exeter police department (the Department) hired Alex Geiger as a police officer in August 2014. After completing a one-year probationary period, Geiger applied to become a canine handler. His application was accepted by the supervisor of the canine unit, Sgt. Brett Inglehart. The Department purchases dogs for its canine unit from Jay Brock, the owner and operator of Top Dog Training Center. Brock also trains both the dogs and the dog handlers. He delivered Neo, a young male Belgian Malinois, to Geiger’s home. The Department supplied Geiger with a kennel, a food dish, a special patrol car and other supplies needed for Neo’s training and maintenance. Along with the dog, Geiger received a set of written instructions from Brock detailing how Neo should be treated during the “bonding” period, and a separate set of written instructions for use during the training courses. During the

3 bonding period, Geiger agreed that he would be the only person to feed and groom Neo, and that he would spend “‘quiet time/bonding time’ with the dog, i.e., sitting quietly with the dog (on leash and/or in a strictly controlled environment, i.e.,…