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NATIONAL POLICE CANINE ASSOCIATION INC

WADDELL, AZ · EIN 721290096 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · NTEE I60 · Crime & Legal-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.npca.net
revenue
$184K
expenses
$209K
net assets
$250K
employees
mission · from form 990

train & certify police dogs & handlers

profile · synthesized from sources

Professional association that sets standards and provides certification for police canine teams in the United States. Offers certification programs in narcotics, explosives, patrol, currency detection, and contraband detection. Serves law enforcement agencies and civilian handlers through standardized testing, membership, and training oversight.

named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

Contraband Dog Certification
Tests K-9 teams on locating contraband including cellphones and electronic components using open field searches
Currency Certification
New certification program for K-9 teams trained to detect currency
EOD Certification
Explosives detection certification requiring identification of fired guns and related components; teams may add gun dog certification concurrently
Narcotic Certification
Tests K-9 teams on locating controlled substances including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, meth, or MDMA; requires minimum 75% success rate across four hides
Patrol Certification
Three-tiered certification (Patrol 1, 2, 3) assessing obedience, courage, area/building searches, and criminal apprehension capabilities
activities · 2 groups

what they do

  • Police K9 Training & Certification 17 activities
    • Conducts certification programs for police canines
      Administers certification testing for police K-9 teams in specialties including narcotics detection, explosive ordnance detection (EOD), patrol, and gun dog capabilities, requiring a minimum success rate of 75% (3 out of 4 finds) for certification.
    • Conducts certification programs for police canines
      Administers certification testing for police canines in specialties including narcotics detection, explosive ordnance detection (EOD), patrol, and tracking, requiring a minimum success rate of 75% (3 out of 4 finds) for certification. Certifications are conducted nationally at various locations.
    • Conducts certification testing for police canines
      Administers certification evaluations for police K-9 teams in specialties including narcotics detection, explosive ordnance detection (EOD), patrol, and tracking, requiring a minimum success rate of 75% (3 out of 4 finds). Certification is required before advancement, such as EOD certification prior to Gun Dog certification.
    • Delivers classroom-based instruction for K-9 handlers and supervisors
      Provides educational programming on topics including patrol K-9 operations, narcotic and explosive detection, officer safety, record keeping, supervision, and legal updates to support professional development of law enforcement personnel.
    • Police Canine Certification
      Conducts certifications for police canines in various specialties, including narcotics detection, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), patrol, and gun detection, requiring K-9 teams to meet specific success criteria.
    • Police Canine Certifications
      Conducts certifications for police canines in various specialties including narcotics detection, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), patrol, and gun detection, requiring K-9 teams to locate at least three out of four finds for certification.
    • Police Canine Certifications
      Conducts certifications for police canines in various specialties, including narcotics detection, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and patrol, requiring K-9 teams to meet specific success criteria such as locating at least three out of four finds for certification.
    • Police Canine Training
      Provides classroom instruction and hands-on training for police K9 teams covering patrol K9, narcotic and explosive detection, K9 supervision, record keeping, officer safety, and legal updates, offered at various locations nationally.
    • Police Canine Training
      Provides classroom instruction and hands-on training for police K9 teams on topics such as patrol K9, narcotic and explosive detection, K9 supervision, record keeping, officer safety, and legal updates, offered at various locations nationwide.
    • Police Canine Training Seminars
      Offers classroom instruction and training seminars for police K9 teams on topics such as patrol K9, narcotic and explosive detection, K9 supervision, record keeping, officer safety, legal updates, and Gun Cert training, held in various locations including Bismarck, ND, Charlottesville, VA, Colorado Springs, CO, Anchorage, Alaska, and Four Oaks & Raleigh, NC.
    • Provides K-9 training and certification programs
      Offers nationwide training and certification programs for law enforcement K-9 teams in patrol, narcotics, explosives, tracking, trailing, and gun detection, with events hosted in locations including Bismarck, ND; Charlottesville, VA; Anchorage, AK; Four Oaks and Raleigh, NC; and Colorado Springs, CO.
    • Provides K9 handler training and professional development
      Offers training seminars and certification courses for law enforcement K9 handlers across the U.S., including in Bismarck, ND, Charlottesville, VA, Anchorage, AK, and North Carolina. Training covers patrol, narcotics, EOD, gun dog, trailing, supervision, legal updates, and officer safety.
    • Provides training and certification seminars nationwide
      Offers in-person training and certification programs across the U.S. in locations including Bismarck, ND; Charlottesville, VA; Anchorage, AK; Four Oaks and Raleigh, NC; and Colorado Springs, CO, covering patrol, narcotics, explosive detection, trailing, and gun dog disciplines.
    • Support for Law Enforcement Operations
      Deploys certified K9 teams to assist law enforcement agencies in detecting and seizing illegal narcotics (e.g., marijuana, meth, cocaine, fentanyl), currency, and firearms, as well as apprehending dangerous suspects involved in various crimes.
    • Support for Law Enforcement Operations
      Deploys certified K9 teams to assist law enforcement agencies in detecting and seizing illegal narcotics, apprehending suspects, and recovering stolen items, contributing to significant seizures of drugs, cash, and firearms.
    • Supports operational law enforcement missions through certified K-9 deployments
      Deploys certified police canines in active law enforcement operations resulting in the apprehension of violent suspects, discovery of concealed narcotics (including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana), and seizure of firearms and currency. Examples include the seizure of over 832 pounds of methamphetamine and apprehension of suspects wanted for homicide, domestic violence, and robbery.
    • Supports operational law enforcement missions through certified K9 deployments
      Deploys certified police canines in active law enforcement operations resulting in the apprehension of violent suspects, discovery of concealed narcotics (including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana), and seizure of firearms and illicit currency across multiple jurisdictions.
  • Technical Safety Guide Development 6 activities
    • Compiles expert safety and procedural guidance for explosive detection
      Produces the Explosive Safety Guide by compiling input from explosive experts and federal documents to standardize understanding of explosives and safe handling procedures for law enforcement K-9 units.
    • Develops and disseminates K9 safety and procedural guidance
      Produces expert-informed resources such as the Explosive Safety Guide, compiled from federal documents and explosive experts, to standardize safe handling procedures and promote best practices in explosive detection operations.
    • Develops safety and procedural guidance materials
      Produces reference materials such as the Explosive Safety Guide, compiled from expert input and federal documents, to standardize safe handling and operational procedures for explosive detection units.
    • Explosive Safety Guide Compilation
      Compiles an Explosive Safety Guide based on input from explosive experts and Federal Documents to enhance understanding of explosives and handling procedures for K9 teams and law enforcement.
    • Explosive Safety Guide Compilation
      Compiles an Explosive Safety Guide using information from explosive experts and Federal Documents to enhance understanding of explosives and handling procedures.
    • Explosive Safety Research
      Compiles and disseminates an Explosive Safety Guide based on expert knowledge and federal documents to enhance understanding and safe handling procedures for explosives.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$184K
Contributions & grants$11K6%
Program service revenue$163K88%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$209K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
Grants paid out
balance sheet
Total assets$250K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$250K
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +17.9%
relationships · 11

who they work with

  • Big Fish Entertainment Partner — Collaborating on the production and casting of the television series AMERICA’S GREATEST K9 to showcase working dogs and their handlers.
  • CSPD Partner — Officer Lofgren and K9 Riggs are part of a NPCA Patrol Certified K9 team from CSPD.
  • DEA Partner — Assisted the DEA on a traffic contact and sniff, leading to the discovery of cocaine.
  • Double Tree by Hilton Partner — Host hotel for the 2026 NPCA National Training Seminar
  • EPSO Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force Partner — Officer Lofgren worked alongside the task force in apprehending a homicide suspect.
  • Gold Hill Division Partner — Officer Kelly responded to a high-risk situation with officers from the Gold Hill Division.
  • Kansas City, Missouri Police Department Partner — Host agency for K-9 Zina's law enforcement service.
  • NPCA Partner — Provides standards and certifications for K-9 teams in narcotics and explosives detection.
  • State of Colorado’s Parole Fugitive Task Force Partner — Assisted the task force in the arrest of a parolee with felony warrants.
  • Thornton Police Department Partner — Assisted with a K9 sniff on a traffic stop.
  • Vested Interest in K9 Partner — Offered to pay the registration fee for ten K9 teams for a training seminar.