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.
