UK Police Hosting Regional K-9 Certification and Trials
LEXINGTON, Ky., (July 8, 2016) — The University of Kentucky Police Department is hosting the United States Police Canine Association Region 5 Certification and Trials event beginning this Sunday July, 10, and continuing through Wednesday, July 13, at the Carnahan House in Lexington.
“Law enforcement canines serve an invaluable function both to their agencies and to the community they serve,” UKPD Chief Joe Monroe said. “We are honored to host the USPCA Region 5 Certification and Trials event this year.”
The United States Police Canine Association is the largest and oldest active organization of its kind. Region 5 encompasses law enforcement canine agencies across Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. These canines will be seeking recertification in agility, obedience, tracking, criminal apprehension, article evidence, narcotics detection and explosives detection at the historic Carnahan House, located on UK's Coldstream Research Campus, just off Newtown Pike.
“Regional and national certification for canine law enforcement agencies are an important tool in standardizing the level of expertise these canines and their handlers must have to become credible witnesses in their respective fields,” said USPCA Region 5 President Jason Thomas.
In 2004, UKPD obtained its first canine as a result of a mutual aid agreement with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The K-9 unit has grown to three canines — their names are Pink, Baska and Junior.
Members of the public are invited to attend the outdoor testing of law enforcement canines including the agility, obedience and criminal apprehension trials on Tuesday, July 12, and Wednesday, July 13.
For more information about USPCA, visit www.uspcaK9.com.
For more information about the Region 5 Certification and Trials, visit www.uky.edu/Police/.
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MEDIA CONTACTS: Carl Nathe, 859-257-3200, carl.nathe@uky.edu; Kathy Johnson, 859-559-5396, kathy.johnson@uky.edu; Jay Blanton, 859-699-0041, jay.blanton@uky.edu.