Local agencies earn top spots at USPCA Regional competition

Posted on March 9, 2017 by From Staff Reports

Law enforcement agencies from as far away as Miami participated in the United States Police Canine Association Regional K-9 Trials in Santa Rosa County earlier this month.
A total of 52 teams from all over the USPCA region competed in Patrol and Narcotics work during the competition in an effort to show off their police K-9s’ skills.
Last Thursday, the agencies held a public demonstration inside Bennett C. Russell Stadium at Navarre High School.
During the demonstration, agencies showed spectators what their K-9’s had to endure during the week-long competition.
This was the first year in its history that Santa Rosa County hosted the annual event.

Locals look on as the police envoy circles Bennett C Russel Stadium last Thursday night during the public demonstration. Below, a police K-9 sniffs out an intruder during the public demonstration at Navarre High School. (Photo by Mat Pellegrino | South Santa Rosa News)

These local K-9’s and their deputies received top honors during the competition:
1st place Team Narcotics: Deputy Holbrook and Deputy Duenas (Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office)
2nd place Narcotics: Deputy Perkins and K-9 Rogue (Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office)
5th place Narcotics: Deputy Burgett and K-9 Zurki (Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office)
Top 20 Patrol Work: Deputy Perkins and K-9 Rogue (Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office)
Susan Rogers Award: Deputy Perkins and K-9 Rogue (Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office)
3rd Place Intra Department: Deputy Burgett and K-9 Zurki (Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office)
Gulf Breeze Police Officer Travis White and his Police K-9, Loki, also participated in the week-long event. This was their first USPCA Region 1 Trials competition they attended.