WPD to host K-9 trials for its region

For the first time in several years, Waxahachie Police Department will host the K-9 trials for Region 20 of the United States Police Canine Association on March 26-30.

During the trials, K-9 teams earn their annual certifications while also earning points for a competition. The top five teams receive a plaque at the awards banquet, and first-place teams from the regional trials can compete during the national USPCA trials later this year.

“Your main goal is to get certified,” K-9 officer Curtis Farmer said. “The second part is the judging and grading. They grade the handler and the dog for points to see where you stand, and that’s to encourage handlers to work with their dogs more and get better.”

Farmer explained that as a K-9 team, you must train every day.

“Most of these dogs are bred for this,” he said. “Their drive and their willingness to go out and work and run and do things is so high. You can’t just put them in the kennel and leave them alone.”

Farmer said the K-9 trials are also a great place to exchange tips with other K-9 teams.

Farmer and Mattis placed first in Narcotics Detection in Rooms and Vehicles at the regional trials last year, qualifying them for nationals in September, where they later placed fifth in the nation.

The K-9 trials begin Monday, March 27, around 8 a.m. with the obedience test, which includes heeling and distance control.

“You have to pass the obedience to show that you have control over your dog before you can move on,” Farmer said.

Next will be a box search for human suspects, where K-9 dogs must find the human located within one of six boxes, simulating a building search. Then, they will complete an article search in 12-inch-tall grass. Farmer said they must locate the items within three minutes and alert their handler without touching the item.

Tuesday’s events will test bite work through two different apprehension tests – one with gunfire and one without. In both tests, the dog is sent after a “decoy,” following different commands like false start (only going when their handler commands it) and recall (chasing the decoy until they reach a certain distance then returning to the handler for further instructions). In the apprehension test with gunfire, Farmer said they use blanks and shoot at the ground, so they do not hurt the dogs.

“(This) is to make sure that the dog is committed and that he’s really going to do what he needs to do – take that suspect down without running away from the gunfire,” Farmer said.

Events on Monday and Tuesday are open to the public and will be held at the Waxahachie Sports Complex or the Ellis County Cowboy Church, depending on weather.

The rest of the trials, not open to the public, will include the narcotics and explosives portions on Wednesday and Thursday.

In one test, the dog will need to find the two cans out of 15 that contain narcotics or explosives, depending on the test. In another test, the dog must find the two cars out of five that have narcotics. Each of these tests are blind hides, meaning only the judges know where the narcotics or explosives are located.

More than 20 teams, with some being from Sherman, Sulphur Springs, Greenville, and Texarkana, will participate in the trials.

Community services officer James “J.T” Taylor and Farmer have worked the past few months on the details for the K-9 trials.

“We want to set the bar really high, so that people want to come back to Waxahachie because of their good experience here,” Taylor said.

Taylor and Farmer went out in the community and found all their sponsors for the trials in one day. The sponsors help provide shirts, door prizes, plaques, catered meals and more.

Follow @WaxahachiePoliceDepartment on Facebook for updates on the upcoming K-9 trials.

Sponsors for the K-9 trails are listed below:

• Tow Pro Wrecker

• Martin Towing

• Massey’s Towing Services

• Waxahachie Ford

• Integra Premier Services

• Holleman Construction

• Edward Jones (Gene Tennison)

• Pearman Oil & L.P. Gas Inc.

• Carlisle Chevrolet, Buick and GMC

• Roofing & Restoration Services of America

• G.T. Morton

• C&M Trailers

• All Pro Technicians

• Lowes

• Landmark Equipment

• Central Kubota Waxahachie

• Best Buy

• Pets Supply Plus

Originally published March 4, 2023 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/business/wpd-to-host-k-9-trials-for-its-region/article_41439242-ba57-11ed-8986-cb66a1147efc.html