Fremont City Council Meeting: 06/03/25 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Police Department
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5458) DOC ID: 5458
Updated: 5/29/2025 2:36 PM by Dina Lewis Page 1
SPECTRUM CANINE, LLC AGREEMENT - Authorize the City Manager or her designee to enter into a Service Agreement with Ricardo Rivera, dba Spectrum Canine, LLC, for the Police Service Dog Team Training
Contact Persons:
Name: Diane Brasil Kenneth Kwok
Title: Police Business Manager Lieutenant
Div/Dept: Police Department Police Department
Phone: 510-790-6816 510-790-6817
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The Fremont Police Department (FPD) has utilized Ricardo Rivera, Spectrum Canine, LLC, for Police Service Dog Team training since 2021. Spectrum Canine has evolved from a decoy service provider to the Fremont Police Department’s primary training provider for the canine unit. Spectrum Canine will continue to provide weekly training for the canine teams, ensuring compliance with the California Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) mandates.
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager, or designee, to enter into an agreement with Spectrum Canine, for a total not to exceed $200,000 over a two-year period for continued Police Service Dog Team training.
BACKGROUND: The Fremont Police Department (FPD) has utilized Spectrum Canine since 2021 to fulfill the required 20-hour POST-mandated training for patrol service dogs/teams.
These trainings primarily focus on obedience and decoy/search techniques to ensure our teams are operating at the highest level and remain prepared for deployment in the field.
Spectrum Canine also utilizes these training days to identify potential areas of improvement that could be dog/team-specific. If an area of improvement is identified, Spectrum Canine provides additional training at an hourly rate until the identified issues have been resolved.
Over the past year, Spectrum Canine has evolved into the primary canine trainer for FPD and has provided an 8-week canine handler course to no less than four new canine teams.
This course is designed to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency of the handler and canine, ensuring both are operating as a highly proficient team within the patrol and detection aspect.
Due to the evolution in use of Spectrum Canine as the primary training provider, costs have increased from the last service agreement. Additional costs are directly associated with advanced training courses that are either POST-mandated or have been identified by the unit manager as essential training.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The Canine Program continues to be an integral part of our patrol function and aids in the safety of community members and officers alike. Canine teams perform multiple functions, from de-escalation tactics to less lethal use of force, aid in the search and apprehension of suspects, and frequently participate in community events and demonstrations.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5458) Meeting of June 3, 2025 Updated: 5/29/2025 2:36 PM by Dina Lewis Page 2
Due to inherent liability and safety concerns associated with law enforcement canine units, ensuring our canine teams are operating at an optimal performance level is vital. The weekly training and advanced training opportunities provided by Spectrum Canine are essential in ensuring we continue to meet industry standards by applying best practices.
The continuous training and advanced training courses enhance officers’ decision-making regarding canine deployments and potential use of force incidents. Additionally, training also allows Spectrum Canine to identify and correct any concerns with a specific canine or canine team.
Pursuant to the City’s Purchasing Ordinance, Section 3.20.280(g), the City is authorized to enter into a contract for services where the selection is based on unique personal accomplishments or characteristics, such as trainers. The recommendation of this Agreement is to continue utilizing Spectrum Canine as FPD’s primary canine trainer and ensure canine teams receive advanced training opportunities.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for the first year has been included in the FY 2025/26 General Fund proposed budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The purchase of canine training is exempt from and not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because, without limitation, it is not a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2) and/or 15378(b)(5) and as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment per CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), each as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with Spectrum Canine, LLC, in an amount not-to-exceed $200,000 over a two-year period for the training of Fremont Police service dog teams.