2026 NAPWDA Illinois State Workshop

North American Police Work Dog Association 2026 Illinois State Workshop

October 5^th, 2026 – October 9^th, 2026

Hosted by: North Chicago Police Department

Partnered with Illinois Tactical Officers Association (ITOA)

Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, training center (ILEAS Center)

1701 E. Main Street Urbana, IL 61802

This Workshop will cover all the phases associated with detection, patrol, and advanced training. Scenario-based training will also be available in each area of training. Certification and training venues will be available in narcotics detection, explosives detection, building search, area search, aggression control, tracking/trailing, cadaver detection, and obedience training.

K-9 Teams of all levels of experience are welcome, as training classes are tailored to the individual team's experience level. Advanced training will include large loads and post-blast exposure. Cadaver will include certification and scenario-based training. Master Trainers in each field will be available for pre-certification training and problem-solving all week. October 5^th to October 9^th, 2026 (Registration $400.00).

Optional training available: Patrol K9 Integration into High-Risk Traffic Stops, October 7^th – October 9^th, 2026. (EXTRA FEE PLUS $75.00)

The 3-day training will combine short classroom instruction, K9 and handler exposure exercises, and scenario-based training utilizing Sim-munitions. Tactical debriefs involving previous K9-related critical incidents will be reviewed.

This training is designed to strengthen officer and handler decision-making during high-risk vehicle stop operations involving patrol K9S. Course instruction will focus on the legal standards governing K9 staging, deployment, apprehension, containment, search, and vehicle extraction. Participants will review Graham v. Connor, Tennessee v. Garner, Illinois use-of-force law, and relevant K9 case law, including Robinette v. Barnes, while emphasizing objective reasonableness, policy compliance, handler control, supervisory review, and ongoing reassessment throughout the incident.

The practical portion of the course will focus on safely integrating K9 teams into high-risk stop environments involving multiple officers, squads, long guns, arrest teams, less-lethal officers, drone operators, cover officers, role players, and decoys. Training will include K9 familiarization with drones, lights, sirens, PA commands, rotor noise, chemical irritant indicators, pepper-ball, OC/CS exposure concerns, less-lethal platforms, and other high-stress operational conditions. Participants will also work through collar, harness, vest, leash, and long-line management while reinforcing safe staging, controlled movement, bite targeting, recall, out/removal, and redeployment decisions.

A central goal of this course is to develop controlled, legally sound, and tactically effective K9 deployment practices during dynamic vehicle stop incidents. Officers and handlers will be expected to recognize when K9 presence, warning, staging, containment, search, apprehension, or extraction is appropriate, while also understanding when force must be discontinued or adjusted based on subject compliance, chemical irritant deployment, less-lethal use, or a change in legal justification. Documentation will also be emphasized, including deployment decisions, warnings, drone observations, subject behavior, bite duration, medical care, K9 welfare checks, and supervisory review.

Any questions, contact Sgt. Donald Florance, 847-456-2402 or email: donflo@northchicago.org

Hotels offering discounted rooms:

Host Hotel:

Comfort Suites Urbana

2001 North Lincoln Ave.

Urbana, IL, 61801

PHONE: (217) 328-3500

RATE: $105.00 PER NIGHT (GROUP ID: IL State K9 Workshop)**

Other accommodation options:

Home2Suites by Hilton Champaign

2013 South Neil Street, Champaign, Illinois 217-355-6468

Best Western Champaign/Urbana

516 W. MarketView Dr., Champaign, Illinois 217-355-5566

**Please note that you must mention your attendance at the NAPWDA K-9 Workshop to receive the discounted rate.

**You must bring and use a kennel crate in your hotel room.

** You are responsible for all damages your K-9 may cause.

Workshop Cost / Registration:

Patrol/Single Purpose Workshop Registration Fee: $400.00

Patrol/Single Purpose Workshop and Patrol K9 Tactics and Survival Workshop Fee: $475.00 (SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20 TEAMS)

You must be a current NAPWDA member to attend and certify; registration Fee does not include NAPWDA membership or ITOA membership. To become a member, visit:

https://www.napwda.com/membership-info

https://www.itoa.org/join-itoa

You must submit a current health certificate for each K-9 you bring (a copy is also acceptable). Registration is due by September 18^th, 2026.

If you need to register someone other than yourself, or more than one person, reach out to admin@itoa.org for assistance and a single invoice.

ITOA Refund Policy (effective from February 10, 2025)

The Illinois Tactical Officers Association (ITOA) refund policy for those who cancel their attendance at an ITOA paid event is as follows:

• A full refund will be issued if cancellation occurs at least 30 calendar days prior to the event. 
• If cancelled 7-29 calendar days prior to the event, a 50% refund will be issued.
• Cancellations less than 7 calendar days prior to the event will not be granted a refund.

Additionally, a registrant who does not attend the event for which they are registered will not receive a refund.