The Arizona Law Enforcement Canine Association announces the award recipients of more than 10 competitive events at the 20th Year of Desert Dog Police K9 Trials & Public Safety Expo, presented Oct. 21 and 22 by Circle K at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road.

More than 70 teams from across the United States competed.

Top Dog. The officer and K9 with the highest combined overall score over the two-day trials; showcasing courage beyond instinct in Tactical Challenges and Handler Protection.

Officer Keegan Smith and K9 Vader, Gilbert Police Department

Tough Dog. K9s running full speed ahead, latching onto a human decoy. Score based on running speed, force of impact and strength of bite.

Sergeant Erick Maldonado and K9 Rogan

Top Overall Agency. Law enforcement agency with highest average combined scores of all its participating officers and K9s during weekend’s trials.

Gilbert Police Department

Patrol Agency. Highest average scoring agency in all patrol challenges with patrol dogs including Area Search and Building Search.

1. Phoenix Police Department
2. Scottsdale Police Department
3. Peoria Police Department

Detection Agency. Highest average scoring agency with their detection dogs focusing on Narcotics and Explosive Ordinance Detection.

1. Gilbert Police Department
2. Arizona Department of Corrections
3. Tucson Police Department

Area Search. Showcasing top-notch skills of search and rescue in real-world scenarios, such as locating a missing person by scent, visual or sound clues. First place victory had the fastest time.

1. Officer Tyler Geyer and K9 Knox, Phoenix Police Department
2. Officer Zack Rapaich and K9 Bubba, Goodyear Police Department
3. Officer CJ Moore and K9 Turbo, Taylorsville Police Department, Utah

Building Search. Offsite challenge at a nearby school. Officer and their fierce K9 were put to the test to locate individuals and other items in a foreign environment.

1. Officer Mike Massey and K9 Usi, Phoenix Police Department
2. Officer Derek Vusovich and K9 Rocco, Scottsdale Police Department
3. Sergeant Shane Seymore and K9 Loki, Goodyear Police Department

Tactical Obedience. In WestWorld’s North Hall on Sunday on a specially designed course, testing K9’s ability to listen and obey its handler on command and reveal the officers’ training with the K9. Includes instructing the K9 to go forward with one command and telling the K9 to stop midway. K9 is scored on the ability to listen and respond.

1. Officer Kevin Drummond and K9 Ralph, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
2. Officer Zachary Rapaich and K9 Bubba, Goodyear Police Department
3. Officer Danny Durand and K9 Junior, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

Tactical Challenge. In WestWorld’s North on Saturday, testing the abilities of the K9 in an obstacle course featuring differing terrain and raised ledges to showcase the K9 and officer’s ability to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings.

1. Officer Ben Waibel and K9 Dex, Coconino County Police Department
2. Sergeant Dan Stipp and K9 Finn, Peoria Police Department
3. Officer Kevin Drummond and K9 Ralph, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

Handler Protection. Officers and K9s join forces for a race against the clock in a series of obstacles testing the two working together. Obstacle challenges included apprehending human decoy and retrieving a woman’s stolen handbag.

1. Officer Chris Nichols and K9 Urosh, Phoenix Police Department
2. Officer Luke Osborn and K9 Udo, Sandoval County Police Department, New Mexico
3. Officer Chris Rodriguez and K9 Kenzo, Pima County Police Department

Narcotics. Offsite challenge at a nearby school. K9 and officers training are put to the test when officers send their K9s to search and locate Narcotics in unfamiliar surroundings. The challenge showcases K9’s training and demonstrates how police dogs are used as a tool by the officer and for the safety of the community.

1. Officer Keegan Smith and K9 Vader, Gilbert Police Department
2. Officer Andrew Vasquez and K9 Gunther, Goodyear Police Department
3. Officer Jared Cooke and K9 Rico, Gilbert Police Department

Explosives Ordinance Detection. K9 and officer teams are challenged to detect multiple explosive odors in buildings, vehicles and open areas. The challenge is a race against the clock for the K9 to accurately locate explosive odors and notify their handler.

1. Officer Deanna Kuhn and K9 Obi, Queen Creek Police Department
2. Officer Zachary Rapaich and K9 Bubba, Goodyear Police Department
3. Officer Mike Tomek and K9 Nagy, Phoenix Police Department

ALECA is one of the largest 501 (c) (3) nonprofit public safety canine organizations in the country led by public safety and business professionals and a team of expert volunteers. More than 95% of funding goes directly to the TEES mission: Train, Educate, Equip and Support, providing critical guidance, state of the art knowledge, research, development and live-action training drills to support K9 law enforcement teams and agencies throughout Arizona.