ILETSB - Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program

A First-of-Its-Kind Certification for Law Enforcement Crisis Response Teams

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB), in partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, has established the nation’s first formal Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program for law enforcement and co-response teams.

This program provides standardized certification for trained therapy canine teams supporting crisis response, peer support, and community engagement—while reinforcing Illinois’ nationally recognized leadership in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training.

Press Release

👉 Read the official press release announcing the program

About the Program

The Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program is a 24-hour (three-day) certification course designed for trained therapy canine teams operating in law enforcement environments.

The course includes:

Classroom instruction
Field training
Scenario-based, actor-led assessments
A final handler-canine team evaluation

The curriculum integrates CIT principles, co-response models, peer support strategies, and advanced handling techniques, ensuring therapy canine teams are prepared to safely and appropriately support individuals experiencing trauma or crisis.

Upon successful completion, certified teams are eligible for inclusion in the ILETSB mutual aid deployment system, allowing deployment during large-scale incidents and critical events statewide. All participants, law enforcement officers and civilians, must be listed on a law enforcement agency roster.

Who Can Participate

Law Enforcement Officers

To be eligible, officers must:

Have at least two years of experience post-basic certification
Have completed Illinois-certified CIT Basic training
Be assigned a canine owned or managed by a law enforcement agency
Use no muzzle or shock collar
Meet Board-approved background check
Be a certified, active officer assigned a canine owned or managed by a law enforcement agency

Civilian Co-Responders (Behavioral Health / Social Work)

Eligible participants must:

Have at least two years of professional experience
Serve as a co-responder under a formal agreement or MOU with a law enforcement agency
Have completed Approved CIT Basic or ILETSB’s Collaborative Crisis Co-Response Course
Be assigned a therapy canine under agency direction and oversight
Meet Board-approved background check

Law Enforcement Crisis Response Support Personnel

Eligible participants must:

Have at least two years working directly with law enforcement
Serve under a formal agreement or MOU
Have completed an Approved CIT De-escalation/Conflict Resolution Course
Be assigned a therapy canine under agency direction and oversight
Meet Board-approved background check

Canine Requirements

Participating canines must:

Have Canine Good Citizen (CGC)-level obedience
Be current on veterinary care and vaccinations
Have no prior training in aggression or apprehension
Use no muzzle or shock collar
Be owned, managed, or formally overseen by a law enforcement agency

Certification & Renewal

Certification is valid for one year
Annual renewal requires:
- A brief update course
- Reevaluation by an ILETSB-approved therapy canine assessor

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will this program train my dog to become a therapy dog?

No. All dogs must already be trained prior to participation. This program certifies existing therapy canine teams.

Does my dog need to come from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office Tails of Redemption (TOR) program?

No. Dogs do not need to originate from TOR to participate.

Is there a cost to attend the training or receive certification?

No. Training and certification are provided at no cost.

Do all participants have to be affiliated with a law enforcement agency?

Yes. All participants—law enforcement officers and civilians—must be listed on a law enforcement agency roster.

Can the three-day course be split across multiple sessions?

No. The program must be completed in one continuous three-day session.

When will applications be available?

Applications will be available on this website by the end of January.

Who should I contact with questions?

Jennifer Wooldridge
Deputy Director of Operations & State CIT Coordinator
📧 Jennifer.Wooldridge@Illinois.gov