Zach Pfannenstiel
With a distinguished career spanning over seventeen years in law enforcement, Zach Pfannenstiel brings a wealth of experience to his role. He has held various positions, including Patrol Officer, Gang Suppression Team officer, Canine Handler, and Patrol Sergeant. Notably, Zach has dedicated over a decade of his career to the Canine Unit, where he currently serves as the Training Sergeant responsible for overseeing a team of 40 working dogs. Currently, Zach Pfannenstiel works a dual-purpose patrol dog, cross-trained in explosive detection.
Zach's responsibilities encompass a wide range of canine-related tasks, including:
- Dog selection and procurement processes
- Training green dogs
- Instructing basic canine academies, advanced trainer, agitator, and E-collar courses
- Annual certifications
- Instructing integrated SWAT/K9 training
- Providing maintenance training
- Overall canine unit management
- Special Operations (MPC) and Military Working Dog (MWD) training
Zach's qualifications also include:
- POST certified instructor, POST scenario role-play evaluator, and K9 POST evaluator
- Head canine trainer
- Less-lethal munitions instructor
- De-escalation instructor for the District Attorney's Office
- Court-recognized expert in use of force, police dog handling, less-lethal munitions, and animal behavior
- Consultation and expert testimony, writing canine policies and legislation for California
- PORAC representative and California Police Chiefs Advisory Panel board member
- Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice
- Sherman Block Supervisor Leadership Institute Graduate
- Expert testimony in State Assembly hearings on Capitol Hill in Sacramento