INSTRUCTORS AND CLASSES

Daryl Gaunt

Behavior Shaping with E-Collar & "When the K9 Changes the Plan! (SWAT) When Daryl Gaunt began working with dogs by decoying for Inglewood PD in 1978. He also worked with the Los Angeles Schutzhund Club where he held the position of Vice President and Assistant Training Director. He then enlisted into the Army for eight years and was a military dog handler for four years. He worked as a Deputy Sheriff for Los Angeles County from 1991 to 2020 and was assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau canine unit from 2003 until his retirement. He was a unit trainer since 2005 where he helped establish their Tactical K9 school. During his tenure he worked three SWAT/patrol dogs including one cross trained as an explosives dog. In addition, Daryl worked for Adlerhorst International from 2010 to 2019 as an instructor. He is a California POST evaluator and has certified hundreds of dog teams from all over the country. He has instructed military and civilian teams both in the United States and internationally. He also was the West Coast Regional Director for the National Police Canine Association from 2017 until 2020 when he moved to Kentucky. He has since returned to California and remains active in the NPCA on the Standards Committee. Daryl owns and operates Paraclete K9 and continues to train around the country.

Behavior Shaping with E-Collar:

Many agencies use E-collars but very few have formalized training. This is not the “old standard” of E-collar training. We believe in using the collar as a communication device as well as a correctional tool. The better we communicate with our dogs the less we have to correct them. This course offers a comprehensive and foundational base for any dog program to build upon. We stress maximum control over the dog without diminishing drive. The course focuses on off leash control at all times. Whether you are a brand-new handler or an experienced veteran who has been using a collar for years, this course is for you!

When The K9 Changes The Plan!:

What happens when SWAT's secret weapon fails? Daryl will cover basic SWAT operations but also debrief real world K9 failures and the lessons we have learned. Today's modern techniques are developed off of yesterday's failures! LASD has tried to bulletproof their SWAT K9 program from over 40 years of trial and error. Why reinvent the wheel? Come and learn from our mistakes.

Sergeant Richard Legarra

K-9 Supervision

Instructor: Sgt. Richard Legarra | Tucson Police Department

Instructor Biography

Sgt. Richard Legarra brings more than 20 years of law enforcement experience with the Tucson Police Department. Throughout his career, he has served as a SWAT officer and currently serves as a SWAT team leader. He played a significant role in developing the department’s approach to deploying SWAT and K-9 teams together in support of investigative units conducting violent offender apprehensions.

Sgt. Legarra has supervised the K-9 Unit for several years and is passionate about leadership, training, and equipping personnel with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to succeed. His experience in both tactical operations and K-9 supervision provides a practical perspective on building effective teams, developing personnel, and strengthening unit performance.

Course Description

Strong leadership is essential to the success of any K-9 Unit. This course examines the critical responsibilities of K-9 supervision and the importance of establishing effective leadership, clear standards, and a culture of accountability.

Topics will include relevant case law, K-9 Unit standards, supervisory responsibilities, and the importance of building professional relationships on behalf of the unit. Participants will explore the challenges of supervising specialized K-9 teams and learn strategies for developing personnel, improving unit effectiveness, and positioning their teams for long-term success.

Through practical guidance and real-world experience, Sgt. Legarra will help participants develop a comprehensive supervision plan tailored to the needs of their personnel and agency. This course is designed to provide K-9 supervisors and aspiring leaders with the tools necessary to lead confidently, support their handlers, and build a well-rounded, successful K-9 Unit.

Special Agent Logan Saunders

Parcel Interdiction Training - Logan Saunders specializes in identifying, disrupting, and interdicting individuals involved in the illegal trafficking of narcotics through the mail and private shipping companies. Logan encompasses over 20 years of experience as a Virginia State Trooper, and over 15 years of experience seizing large amounts of in-transit narcotics from all major couriers to include USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Logan is a court certified subject matter expert in parcel interdiction, and has personally seized over 850 parcels containing illegal narcotics. Logan has been involved as a team member or assistant in over 2,500 seized parcels containing illegal narcotics. companies.

Taylor Rahn

Taylor Rahn is an attorney based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who specializes in representing law enforcement agencies and personnel in civil, administrative, and criminal matters involving the use of force. Her experience includes representing the Albuquerque Police Department in litigation brought by the United States Department of Justice, which concluded in 2025. She also consults nationally on institutional reform matters involving police departments.

With three generations of her family having proudly served with the Albuquerque Police Department, Taylor has a strong personal connection to law enforcement. Her legal experience and understanding of the challenges facing law enforcement provide valuable insight into the legal standards, liability considerations, and accountability measures that influence modern policing.

Black and Blue: An Assessment of Critical Incident Response from Law Enforcement and Judicial Perspectives

Critical incidents require sound decision-making, effective response, and a thorough understanding of the legal and operational considerations that follow. This course examines critical incident response from both law enforcement and judicial perspectives.

Topics will include canine-related incidents, in-custody deaths, and officer-involved shootings. Participants will gain insight into how these events are evaluated, the legal considerations that may arise, and the importance of sound policies, training, documentation, and decision-making when reviewing critical incidents.

Civil Liability and the Use of Police Canines

The use of police canines as a force option involves important legal, operational, and supervisory considerations. This course provides an overview of the legal principles governing police canine deployments and examines trends in civil and criminal litigation involving canine-related uses of force.

Participants will explore factors that influence liability, common legal considerations associated with canine deployments, and practical strategies for reducing risk through effective training, sound policies, appropriate deployment practices, and thorough documentation. The course is designed to help handlers, supervisors, and agency leaders strengthen their understanding of legal responsibilities while supporting professional and accountable K-9 operations.

Tyler Rahn

Tyler Rahn has served in New Mexico law enforcement since 2006 and currently serves as a SWAT sergeant on a full-time team. Throughout his career, he has served in several specialized assignments, including detective and K-9 handler.

Tyler is also an instructor in multiple disciplines, with a primary focus on tactical operations. His background in patrol, investigations, K-9 operations, and tactical leadership provides a practical perspective on the operational considerations and decision-making involved in law enforcement. His experience complements Taylor’s legal expertise, offering participants insight into both the legal and operational aspects of police canine deployments and critical incident response.

Black and Blue: An Assessment of Critical Incident Response from Law Enforcement and Judicial Perspectives

Civil Liability and the Use of Police Canines

Sergeant Rene Sanchez

Sgt. Rene “Ray” Sanchez

Sgt. Rene “Ray” Sanchez is a 32-year law enforcement veteran with the Boston Police Department, where he has served for 30 years and accumulated 18 years of canine experience. Since November 2020, he has commanded the Boston Police Department’s Special Operations Division Canine Unit, overseeing 26 handlers across Patrol, Narcotics, and Explosive Ordnance Detection (EOD).

As canine commander, Sgt. Sanchez is responsible for operational planning, specialized canine deployments, training and certifications, tactical operations, personnel readiness, and budget management. He directs daily operational strategies while coordinating resources and personnel to support the unit’s mission and operational effectiveness.

In addition to his command responsibilities, Sgt. Sanchez is a Massachusetts Patrol Procedure and Motor Vehicle Stop instructor who teaches at statewide Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) academies. He also provides instruction to police recruits and newly promoted sergeants at the Boston Police Academy.

Through his extensive experience in canine operations, specialized training, and leadership, Sgt. Sanchez brings valuable real-world knowledge to the EOD Canine Threat and Risk Assessment and Deployment Class, focusing on threat assessment, operational planning, canine deployment strategies, and interagency coordination to enhance public safety.

Senior Special Agent Brentt Donaldson

Kansas Bureau of Investigation | K-9 Trainer & NPCA Instructor

Senior Special Agent Brentt Donaldson serves with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), where he specializes in drug investigations, fugitive apprehension, and police canine operations. His passion for police service dogs began while earning his Criminal Justice degree at Bethany College, when he conducted independent studies with local police K-9 units.

Donaldson began his law enforcement career with the Lenexa Police Department in 2014, serving as a decoy for the department’s K-9 Unit before becoming a dual-purpose K-9 handler in 2017. Paired with his canine partner Wrecker, he performed narcotics detection and patrol duties and continued serving as a handler with three different dogs.

In 2021, Donaldson joined the KBI’s Special Operations Division, focusing on drug investigations and fugitive apprehension. Recognizing the need for a dedicated canine program within the Bureau, he played an integral role in establishing the KBI’s K-9 Unit, which became home to Kansas’ first fentanyl-working dogs. He currently partners with Kuno in narcotics detection and patrol operations and serves on the KBI’s High Risk Warrant (Tactical) Team.

In addition to his operational responsibilities, Donaldson serves as the KBI’s canine trainer and new agent instructor. He is also an NPCA Certifying Official, Instructor, and Trainer, bringing extensive practical experience in canine handling, training, and program development to the law enforcement community.

At the 2027 NPCA National Training Seminar in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Senior Special Agent Donaldson will teach Police Canine Procurement, sharing his professional experience and knowledge with K-9 handlers, trainers, and law enforcement professionals.

Jenn Miller

Jenn Miller & Mike Miller — Presenters Biography

Jenn graduated from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy in 2015 and dedicated her career to the Avondale Police Department in Arizona. Following a defining officer-involved shooting during negotiations with a suicidal individual, she developed a passion for crisis intervention and de-escalation, becoming a Crisis Intervention Officer, an FBI-trained SWAT hostage negotiator, and an instructor. Throughout her career, she served on the hiring team, conducted background investigations, taught physical fitness and defensive tactics, trained 20 recruits as a Field Training Officer, and operated drones for patrol and SWAT. One of her most significant accomplishments was developing an eight-hour academy course on de-escalation and interactions with individuals experiencing mental health crises or developmental disabilities, incorporating scenario-based training with Veterans Affairs Police and Sounds of Autism. Named Officer of the Year, Jenn continued serving her community after a serious on-duty neck injury by creating a special needs registration program before ultimately medically retiring. She now enjoys retirement on Florida’s Emerald Coast with her husband, Mike Miller, a retired K-9 partner, Tito, spending time at the beach and boating.

See Mike Miller's on Outside the Box Training.

“Officer Wellness: Behind the Badge — A Story of Survival, Strength, and Choosing to Live,” This is not a wellness lecture from people who have never experienced the realities of law enforcement. Michael and Jenn bring firsthand experience with critical incidents, personal struggles, and the often-hidden toll of a career in public safety. On December 29, 2024, years of accumulated struggles came to a head, changing their lives forever and setting them on a path toward healing, treatment, and rediscovering what it means to truly live. Through their raw, honest story, they share the challenges leading up to that day, the impact on both of them, and the work it takes to find purpose and hope again. Designed to reach the alpha personalities and warriors who are often the hardest to reach, this class challenges the belief that asking for help is weakness. They are not desk jockeys teaching from a textbook; they are law enforcement professionals who have lived through critical incidents and understand the culture, the pressure, and the battles that can follow us home. You can be a warrior and still need help. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is choose to live.

Michael Miller

TRAINING OUTSIDE THE BOX - Real World K9 Training for Real-World Challenges | Officer Wellness: Behind the Badge - A Story of Survival, Strength, and Choosing to Live

Michael Miller brings 25 years of law-enforcement experience and 19 years specializing in K9 operations, training, and SWAT integration. Throughout his career, he has focused on developing effective working-dog teams, strengthening operational capabilities, and preparing officers for the demands and challenges of modern law enforcement.

As an experienced K9 professional and tactical operator, Michael takes a practical, experience-driven approach to training. His philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, adaptability, problem-solving, and sound decision-making under pressure. Drawing from real-world deployments and his experience alongside his exceptional K9 partner, Tito, Michael understands the importance of teamwork, trust, preparation, and operational effectiveness.

Michael brings that same commitment to officer development and wellness, recognizing that preparing officers for the realities of law enforcement extends beyond tactical proficiency. The physical, emotional, and psychological demands of the profession can have lasting effects on officers and their families. Through honest conversations and personal insight, he helps bring attention to the importance of mental health, resilience, and recognizing when support is needed.

At the National Police Canine Association’s National Training Seminar, Michael is involved in two important areas of professional development.

His “Training Outside the Box: Real-World K9 Training for Real-World Challenges” course challenges handlers and trainers to move beyond traditional methods and build adaptable, confident K9 teams prepared for unpredictable situations.

Nic Bonney

Nic Bonney is an investigator with the Nebraska State Patrol and an instructor with ACE Interdiction Tactics (ACEIT). He began his law enforcement career in 2011, joined the Criminal Interdiction Unit in 2019, and partnered with a canine in 2021, expanding his work in narcotics detection and criminal interdiction. Nic and his team use nontraditional interdiction methods, including parcel interdiction and consensual encounters, to identify and disrupt narcotics trafficking.

Class description

Drawing on field experience and actual body-camera footage, Nic connects relevant case law to practical police work. His instruction focuses on proactive policing, effective communication, and developing reasonable suspicion through conversation and observation. He emphasizes establishing a baseline, recognizing changes in behavior, and pursuing investigative opportunities while maintaining constitutional standards and professional communication.

Prosecutor Jared Robinson

Legal Updates - Jared Robinson began his career in 2014 as a prosecuting attorney for the Apache County Attorney's office in Arizona. In his time there he worked closely with the local drug task force (MCAT) prosecuting dope cases as well as large interdiction efforts on the I-40. Starting in 2025, he began prosecuting all the drug crimes for Phelps County, MO. He's handled hundreds of drug cases - now in two vastly different jurisdictions. Don't miss his legal updates class, revamped every year to bring you the most important information.