Zach Pfannenstiel

With a distinguished career spanning over eighteen 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 fifteen years 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