FOLEY, Ala. (WALA) – Some of the nation’s high police Okay-9 groups are in Foley this week, competing within the U.S. Police Canine Association’s PD-1 Nationals. Hosted by Foley Sports Tourism together with Foley PD, it’s like a canine Olympics for police patrol dogs. Wednesday, September 27, 2023, half of the sphere, together with a number of of our native groups took half within the “Apprehension with Gunfire” drill.
It begins with the K9 at heel place with its handler. About 30 yards away, one other handler carrying chew safety on the arm performs the position of an armed suspect. That officer fires two clean rounds and begins to run away from the K9 staff. That’s when the canine is about unfastened, solely taking seconds for it to catch us with its topic.
For lots of the groups competing within the Nationals, this is without doubt one of the tougher workouts to grasp. The police dogs should overcome the adrenalin rush that comes from a mix of gunfire, chase and apprehension.
The first rivals of the day had been two groups from Foley PD, the host company. Canine Officer, Cpl. Curtis Riks has labored police dogs for the final 10 years and has had his canine, Niko for the final seven of them.
“He did really well today,” Riks mentioned. “For how he typically does on bite-work…he usually gets really amped up and can have some issues. He gets that adrenalin, but he did really good. I was really happy with it.”
Niko is a Belgian Malinois, one of many extra athletic breeds represented and identified for his or her velocity. Other widespread breeds of police dogs just like the German Shepard could not have the velocity however nonetheless have all of the instruments to make the grade.
“Different dogs are going to do different things. Different training techniques are going to get different results, but we have the minimum standards here to meet and as long as you meet those minimum standards, you’re good with the certification,” Riks defined.
K9 groups got here from throughout the southeast and at the same time as far-off as Massachusetts. Amanda Cummings made the journey up from Coconut Creek, Florida along with her associate, Noble. She had what most would take into account a stellar run at this station. She works in a discipline that’s dominated by males…each, human and canine. Officer Cummings mentioned she welcomes the problem.
“SWAT and K9 are the two areas in law enforcement that are really male-dominated, but we’re making gains,” Cummings mentioned. “I mean, there’s five of us, I think here out of what, almost a hundred guys so we’re definitely…we’re still the minority but we like to come out here and try to break the mold and show that us girls can do it too.”
Watching the competitors is a variety of enjoyable for spectators who’ve by no means seen this sort of work up shut. Laci Kyzar got here along with her pals from Homma, Louisiana to help her hometown staff and had by no means seen the dogs undergo trials. Not surprisingly, she was impressed.
“You see it in videos all the time but to see it in real life, it’s just amazing what these dogs are capable of doing and out there to work. That’s what they look forward to,” mentioned Kyzar.
For those that need to see a reside demonstration, one will likely be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 28, 2023 on the Foley Sports Complex Championship Stadium. There isn’t any admission cost.
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