REGION 20 / REGION 25 K9 CERTIFICATION TRIALS
On the week of April 27th – May 2nd, Region 20 President, Cleve Williams and Region 25 President, Kirk Horton joined together for a week of friendships old and new, memories, & to certify our partners. We all understand that we can’t do this every time, but it was great to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. Through this comradery we pass along valuable information and memories. This event brought officers from east and west Texas much closer than before. The K9’s of both regions were real rock stars. Each K9 team did their best in the events of Obedience, Evidence Search, Suspect Search, Tracking, Criminal Apprehension with / without gunfire, with majority certifying in PDI. The week leads into the detection phases. The majority of each K9 team certified in each of the detection events, varying from Explosive to Narcotic Detection. We would like to express congratulations to every K9 team who certified and returned home safely to continue our jobs. Below is a list of K9 Teams who placed in the competition portion of the trial.
Region 20:
Patrol (PDI) Narcotic Detection:
1: Alex Belteton – Tango 1: Geoff Smyder - Murtaugh
2: Ruben Vargas – Cash 2: Austin Milbourn - Jois
3: Geoff Smyder – Murtaugh 3: Cole Bredenberg - Thor
4: Zac Beauchamp – Tex 4: Ruben Vargas - Cash
5: Greg Ceraso – Aygo 5: Alex Belteton – Tango
Explosive Detection: Top Dog
1: Lane Kahla – Allen Alex Belteton - Tango
2: Donnie Cox – Nina Rookie Dog
3: Jarod Villejoin – Swen Greg Ceraso – Aygo
Region 25
PDI: Tracking
1: Kevin Easley 1: Tim Cox
2: Jeff Penny 2: Jeff Penny
Evidence Search: 3: Jacob Kartchner
1: Amanda Ward 4: Hailey Calcote
2: Kevin Easley 5: Kevin Easley
3: Andrew Squyers Narcotics:
4: Hailey Calcote 1: James Kerby
5: Jeff Penny 2: Hailey Calcote
Rookie Dog: 3: Clayton Morris
James Kerby – Dokk 4: Amanda Ward
Top Dog: 5: Tim Cox
Hailey Calcote – Wolf
In August 2024, Cpl. Miranda Wright lost her brave battle with cancer. Cpl. Wright has a fierce heart for K9’s. Cpl. Wright never blamed her K9 partner, Bond, for any shortcomings, she took responsibility and trained harder. Cpl. Wright did not waiver, she strived to be the best and trained Bond to be the best. Cpl. Wright always had a positive attitude and was a pleasure to be around. This year is the first year of the K9 Cpl. Miranda Wright Memorial Award. This award signifies good sportsmanship, integrity, loyalty, dedication to the K9 field, along with the desire to train harder and be better.
I am proud to say that the K9 Handler who received this award is Hailey Calcote with Graham Police Department. Congratulations, that is he highest honor you could receive.
Lastly, rest in peace Cpl. Wright, you are and will be missed for a long time to come.
Congratulations to each K9 handler, continue training hard, remember to go home safe, & we will see you next year.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations to Colt Bredenburg , Arron Lewis ,and Tanner Freeman Texarkana Police Department and Landon Wilkerson and Ryan Ellis with the Department of Energy. Everyone represented their respective departments and Region 20 to the highest of standards. Job well done!
