Michael W. Kmiecik, Owner, Consultant and Trainer

I am a retired certified Illinois peace officer and had been for more than 24 years and more than 28 years in Illinois law enforcement.  I retired from law enforcement in August of 2023.  I have engaged in more than 4,988 hours of general law enforcement training.  I have been a police service dog handler for approximately 19 years.  I have engaged in more than 5,716 hours of police service dog training.  In 2024, I became a certifying official with the International Police Canine Association, formerly known as the California Canine Narcotic Association.

I own and operate Sheepdog Guardian Consulting, LLC, and have since 2018.  I teach canine legal updates seminars, including seminars related to police service dog search and seizure; police service dog use of force, police service dog industry standards, police service dog supervision, and police service dog handler compensation, and have since 2011 to Illinois and Wisconsin police service dog handlers and supervisors.  Since 2019, after I took over for Terry Fleck, Ed.D., Canine Legal Updates and Opinions, I travel throughout the United States instructing police service dog handlers, supervisors, prosecutors, and attorneys.  I conduct canine legal updates seminars, including seminars related to police service dog search and seizure; police service dog use of force, police service dog industry standards, police service dog supervision, and police service dog handler compensation.

The curriculums and seminars discussed above have been approved, or pending approval, for continuing legal education credit by the:

• Supreme Court of Pennsylvania - approved

• Supreme Court of Tennessee – approved

• Supreme Court of Ohio - approved

The curriculums and seminars discussed above have been approved by various state law enforcement training boards and commissions for continuing education credit, including:

• Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST)

  • Canine Legal Updates Arkansas: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog (Course Number 21-234)

• Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.)

  • K9 Legal Update (Georgia) (2024) (Course Number NLV03G)

• Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.)

  • Canine Legal Updates Idaho: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog (Course Number R4232)

• Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB)

  • Canine Legal Updates Illinois: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog (MTU13)

  • High Risk Traffic Stops (MTU3)

  • Patrol Tactics: Rapid Deployment (MTU3)

  • Pistol Skills (MTU3)

  • Less Lethal Operators Requalification (MTU3)

  • AXON TASER Energy Weapon Re-certification (MTU3)

• Indiana Law Enforcement Training Provider

  • Canine Legal Updates Indiana: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog

  • Canine Legal Updates Indiana: Agency, Administrator, Supervisor and Trainer Liability

• Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) (Eligible Credit)

  • Canine Legal Updates Louisiana: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog

• Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement (MCOLES)

  • Canine Legal Updates Michigan: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog

  • Canine Legal Updates Michigan: Agency, Administrator, Supervisor and Trainer Liability

• Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)

  • Canine Legal Updates Missouri: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog

  • Canine Legal Updates Missouri: Agency, Administrator, Supervisor and Trainer Liability

• Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training

  • Canine Legal Updates Oregon: Patrol Dog and Drug-detection Dog 24SGC43PN

  • Canine Legal Updates Oregon: Agency, Administrator, Supervisor and Trainer Liability

• Oklahoma Council of Law Enforcement Education and Training

  • Canine Legal Update Oklahoma: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog

• Pennsylvania Municipal Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC)

  • Canine Legal Updates Pennsylvania: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog (CLEE ID Number 1791)

  • Canine Legal Updates Pennsylvania: Agency, Administrator, Supervisor and Trainer Liability (CLEE ID number 1792)

  • Canine Legal Update Pennsylvania: Agency, Administrator, Supervisor & Trainer Liability (CLEE ID Number CLE2065)

  • Canine Legal Update Pennsylvania: Patrol Dog and Drug-detection Dog (CLEE ID Number CLE02066)

• ·Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (TN P.O.S.T.)

  • Canine Legal Updates Tennessee: Patrol Dog and Narcotic Contraband Detection Dog

• Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (TCOLES) (Eligible Credit)

  • Canine Legal Updates Texas: Patrol Dog and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dog

  • Canine Legal Updates Texas: Agency, Administrator, Supervisor and Trainer Liability

In July 2022, I received certification as a Force Analyst from the Force Science Institute®. 

Since 2020, I have developed and taught courses for various state law enforcement agencies related to police service dog topics.

• Maine State Police (Training Academy)

• Minnesota State Patrol

• Nebraska State Patrol

• North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation

• Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics

• Wisconsin State Patrol

In 2018, I was certified as a Threat Pattern Recognition Use of Force instructor by the Human Factors Research Group (formerly known as Pressure Point Control Tactics (PPCT). 

I was qualified as a law enforcement instructor by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board in the following areas:

• Use of Force;

• Firearms;

• Rifle/Carbine;

• Defensive Tactics;

• Handcuffing;

• Baton;

• OC Spray; Less-lethal Impact Munitions;

• Chemical Munitions;

• Distraction Devices;

• Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs);

• Search & Seizure;

• Patrol Tactics; and

• Traffic Stops/High-risk Traffic Stops

Additionally, I was a certified instructor in the following areas:

• The WRAP Restraint Device;

• Below 100;

• MEGITTS XVT firearms training simulator; and

• Ultimate Training Munitions/Non-lethal training ammunition

Since 2016, I have consulted, prepared expert witness opinion, and/or been deposed, and/or testified in the following cases:

• (2026)  Penrod v. Barriere, et al., 2:25-cv-00268 (E.D. Wis.), prepared Expert Witness Report.

• (2025)  Wesley v. City of Lynchburg, et al., 6:24-cv-00032 (W.D. Va.), prepared Expert Witness Report, motion to dismiss granted in part and denied in part.

• (2025)  Williams v. Painter, 3:24-CV-00696 (E.D. Va.), prepared Expert Witness Report, motion to dismiss granted.

• (2024)  Vigil v. City of Santa Fe, et al., D-101-CV-2023-00106 (First Judicial District Court, State of New Mexico), disclosed expert witness, deposed.

• (2024)  Washington v. Wong, et al., 1:23-CV-00471 (D. Colo.), prepared Expert Witness Report.

• (2024)  Berghammer v. City of Madison, et al. 3:23-CV-006789 (E.D. Wis.), consulted.

• (2023)  United States v. Smith, 6:22-CR-00146 (E.D. Tex.), prepared Expert Witness Report, testified.

• (2023)  Weaver v. Decatur County, Tennessee, et al., 1:22-CV-01033 (W.D. Tenn.), prepared Expert Witness Report.

• (2022)  Johnson v. McCowan, et al., 7:20 CV 00582 (W.D. Va.), prepared Expert Witness Report, prepared Rebuttal Expert Witness Report, Deposed.

• (2021)  Walker v. Town of Madison, et al., 20-cv-599-bbc (W.D. Wis.), prepared Expert Witness Report.

• (2019)  People of the State of Illinois v. Deandre Mister, 17th Circuit Court of Boone County, Illinois, 2018CF25, consulted as a Subject Matter Expert.

• (2016)  Gary v. City of North Chicago, et al., 13 CV 8048 (N.D. Ill. 2016), prepared Expert Witness Opinion Report.

In the past 10 years, I have authored the following publications:

• Authored published article, “Do Detection Dog Teams Need to Calculate Field Performance Reliability?”  December 2025, NAPWDA, pp. 44-47.

• Authored published article, “It’s the Totality of the Circumstances!”  August 2025, NAPWDA, pp. 32-34.

• Authored published article, “No Trespassing, Violator’s Will be Prosecuted!”  April 2025, NAPWDA, pp. 28-30.

• Authored published article, “Court Reaffirms United Staes Law Enforcement Patrol Dog Rule.”  December 2024, NAPWDA, pp.22, 24-25.

• Authored published article, “Police Dogs, Prolonged Dog Bite, Mentally Ill and Agency Liability, Part II.”  August 2024, NAPWDA, pp. 21-22.

• Authored published article, “Police Dogs, Prolonged Dog Bite, Mentally Ill and Agency Liability, Part I.”  April 2024, NAPWDA, pp. 25-27.

• Authored published article, “Vehicle Detention Time and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dogs.”  Fall 2020, The United States Police Canine Association Canine Courier, pp. 7-11.

• Authored published article, “Tracking/Trailing & Scent Line-up.”  Spring 2020, The United States Police Canine Association Canine Courier, pp. 52-54.

• Authored published article, “The Five-Court Mandates.”  June/July 2019, K-9 COP Magazine, Issue 56, pp. 60-63.

• Authored published article, “Pre-deployment Warning Announcements.”  Spring 2019, The United States Police Canine Association Canine Courier, pp. 12-13.

• Authored published article, “Illinois Changes Police Drug Detection Dog Certification and Enacts New Laws.”  February/March 2019, K-9 COP Magazine, Issue 54, pp. 64-67.

• Co-authored published article, “Dogs when can you use them and when can’t you use them?” May 2016 Court Smart, Volume 52, p. 73, Law Enforcement Training, LLC.

• Since March 2019, when I took over for Terry Fleck (Canine Legal Updates & Opinions), I have edited, updated, re-formatted, and/or rewrote the following Terry Fleck articles and published those edited, updated, re-formatted, and/or rewritten articles to my website www.sheepdogguardian.com.

• Occupant Searches Based on Detection Dog Alert: Case Law Summary, 2025;

• Drug-detection Dog Alert: No Trained Final Response, Alerts & Trespassing, 2024, 2025;

• Marijuana Detection Dogs: Case Law Summary, 2024, 2025;

• Accelerant Detection Dog Summary, January 2020;

• Agency Liability Issues, January 2020, September 2020, May 2023;

• Handler Compensation, January 2020, August 2020

• K-9 (Dog) Selection (Appointment), Retention and Discipline, January 2020;

• K-9 Handler Selection (Appointment), Retention and Discipline, January 2020;

• Canine Assigned Vehicles, March 2020;

• FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) and the K-9 Handler, January 2020;

• K9’s Killed in Overheated Vehicles, January 2020;

• Police Service Dogs are not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Dogs, January 2020;

• Explosive Detection Dogs Summary, January 2020, July 2020;

• Explosive Detection Dogs Case Law Summary, January 2020, June 2022;

• Human Remains Detection Overview, January 2020, September 2021;

• Basic Canine Contraband Principles, January 2020;

• Narcotic-contraband – Definitions, January 2020;

• Basic Search and Seizure Rules, December 2020;

• Canine Positive Alert and Final Response/Indication, January 2020, May 2020;

• Canine’s Reliability/Training/Certification, February 2020;

• Marijuana Detection Dogs:  Where do they Stand?, January 2020;

• Narcotic-contraband Detection – Money/Currency Sniffs, April 2020;

• Summer 206 – Patrol and Narcotics K-9, Lessons Learned, January 2020;

• Vehicle Detection and Narcotic-contraband Detection Dogs, February 2020;

• Accidental/Unintentional K-9 Bites – Canine Liability Settlement Agreement, January 2020;

• Accidental/Unintentional Police Service Dog Bites and Their Relationship to Fourth Amendment Liability, January 2020;

• Effects of OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) on Police Service Dogs, January 2020;

• Effects of the TASER X26 on Police Service Dogs, January 2020;

• Ground Fighting with a Police Service Dog (K-9), January 2020;

• Handgun Mounted Lights for Canine Handler, January 2020;

• Minimum Requirements for Patrol K09s, Focusing on California, January 2020;

• Patrol Dog Summary, January 2020, March 2020, January 2021;

• Patrol K-9 Legality Issues, January 2020;

• Pre-deployment Warning Announcements, January 2021;

• The Five-Court Mandates, February 2020;

• Third Party, Third Location, K-9 Warning announcements – A Safer Way to Afford an Opportunity for Peaceful Surrender; January 2020;

• Verbal Recall, Verbal Out and Verbal Off-lead Obedience for Patrol dogs; Police Dogs Are Not Deadly Force, January 2020;

• Suicidal Subject, K-9 Tracking and Person Find Report Writing Guide, January 2020; and

• Tracking/Trailing & Scent Line-up Summary, January 2020.

Since 2019, I have contributed the to the following podcasts:

• The Police K9 Training Podcast with Jeff Meyer

  • K9 Legal Update with Mike Kmiecik from Sheepdog Guardian

  • Florida v. Harris Explained: What Every K9 Handler Needs to Know

  • Jeff talks with Mike Kmiecik about a new case regarding Patrol Dogs

  • Narc Dog Case Law Update with Mike Kmiecik

  • Should You Imprint and Train Your Narcotics Dog on Fentanyl?

  • September Legal Update with Mike Kmiecik from Sheepdog Guardian

  • May Legal Update with Mike Kmiecik

  • Sheepdog Guardian Legal Update for March

• HITS Radio

  • Jeff Meyer Interviews Mike Kmiecik from Sheepdog Guardian

• Police K9 Radio

  • #035 Legal Update with Mike Kmiecik (Part 2)

  • #027 Legal Update with Mike Kmiecik (PK9R Law Dog)

  • #063 K9 and SWAT Integration PLUS and Interview with Mike Kmiecik (PK9R Legal Beagle)

  • #072 Police Dogs Guilty of Trespassing? 

• Working Dog Radio

  • Episode 108: Michael Kmiecik

  • Episode 236: Low Staffing is Not an Excuse with Michael Kmiecik

• K9’s Talking Scents

  • Episode 45:  “Legally speaking” with Mike Kmiecik

  • #83 Fentanyl, Marijuana and Currency “Oh My” with Mike Kmiecik

  • Detection K9 Currency Sniffs

  • Training a Dog to Detect Fentanyl

  • K9 Panic…My State Legalized Marijuana