Congrats to the members of our K-9 unit for their performance at the K-9 Field Trials held this past week hosted by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
A field of nearly 70 police dogs from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama certified and competed in the week-long event. Although nearly half of our team are still considered new to the unit, with just over a year on the team, they did great!
The following LakelandPD K-9 teams participated:
Sergeant Chad Whitaker & K9 Blizzard
Officer Ryan Back & K9 Smoke
Sergeant Ryan McLaughlin & K9 Lars II
Officer Preston Chatmon & K9 Judah
Officer Alex Rethwisch & K9 Kodiak
Officer Javier Perez & K9 Dunn
Officer John Skillman & K9 Mako
Officer Morgan Mumbauer & K9 Summit
The following teams achieved top placement overall and in individual categories.
ROY PARKER “TOP NOVICE” AWARD –
Officer Alex Rethwisch & K9 Kodiak
PATROL OVERALL
1st Place Patrol Overall/ Ron Bowling “Top Dog” Award – Sergeant Whitaker & K9 Blizzard
8th Place – Officer Alex Rethwisch & K9 Kodiak
16th Place – Officer Ryan Back & K9 Smoke
19th Place – Officer John Skillman K9 Mako
OBEDIENCE
2nd Place – Officer Preston Chatmon & K9 Judah
5th Place – Sergeant Whitaker & K9 Blizzard
OVERALL SEARCH
4th Place – Sergeant Whitaker & K9 Blizzard
CRIMINAL APPREHENSION
2nd Place – Sergeant Whitaker & K9 Blizzard
4th Place – Officer John Skillman K9 Mako
4 MAN DEPARTMENT PATROL TEAM – 2nd Place:
Sergeant Chad Whitaker & K9 Blizzard
Officer Ryan Back & K9 Smoke
Sergeant Ryan McLaughlin & K9 Lars II
Officer Preston Chatmon & K9 Judah
Officer John Skillman & K9 Mako (Alternate)
2 MAN DEPARTMENT PATROL TEAM – 1st Place
Officer Alex Rethwisch & K9 Kodiak
Officer Morgan Mumbauer & K9 Summit
2 Man INTRA-DEPARTMENT PATROL TEAM – 2nd Place
Officer Javier Perez & K9 Dunn along with a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Handler
EXPLOSIVE DETECTOR
3rd Place OVERALL – Sergeant Whitaker & K9 Blizzard
2nd Place Indoor – Sergeant Whitaker & K9 Blizzard
5th Place Outdoor – Sergeant Whitaker & K9 Blizzard
1st Place Explosive Intra-Department 2-man Team – Sergeant Whitaker & K9 Blizzard along with an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Handler