THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) — The Thomasville Police Department’s K-9 unit scored high marks at the United States Police Canine Association's annual K-9 Competition and Certifications, where the unit was named the No. 1 Patrol Dog Team.
In late February, the TPD K-9 unit recently attended the USCPA annual K-9 Competition and Certifications.
The event, held in Brandon, Mississippi, included events in areas such as Obedience, Agility, Narcotics Detection, and Criminal Apprehension. Three K-9 teams from TPD participated.
The TPD teams consisted of K-9 handler and unit leader Corporal Grady Shiver and K-9 Tank, K-9 Handler Branden Kent and K-9 Koda and K-9 Handler Haley Jensen and K-9 Kaiko.
They went up against 18 other teams from Georgia and Mississippi, taking home indiviudla and team awareds.
“I am extremely proud of this K-9 unit,” said Thomasville Police Chief Troy Rich. “Each of the officers and their K-9’s represented our agency extremely well in this regional competition.”
Corporal Shiver and Tank finished in 1st place Criminal Apprehension and Combined Obedience and Apprehension. Handler Kent and Koda took home 3rd place Criminal Apprehension and 4th place Overall Patrol Dog. As a team TPD’s units placed 1st in Patrol Dog Team.
Corporal Shiver attributes the success of TPD’s K-9 units to a positive team mentality and relentless training.
“These are team awards, we cannot train alone. They validate the hard work that goes into training and maintaining our partner’s skill level,” said Corporal Shiver. “Over the years the K-9 teams have completed hundreds of K-9 demos where they have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills that both the K-9 and the handlers have developed. I am proud of our unit and our accomplishments.”
K-9 teams were first implemented by the TPD in the late 1980’s.
