GPD, chamber hosting U.S. Police Canine Association certification trials in Graham

Graham Police Department, in partnership with the Graham Chamber of Commerce and Graham ISD, are hosting the United State Police Canine Association Region 25 Certification Trials at Newton Field in March. The week-long event is judged by experts in police K-9 tracking, narcotics detection, K-9 patrol and article searches.

Since 1971, the USPCA has trained and certified police dogs in general patrol dog use, tracking, protection, narcotics detection, explosive detection, arson, fish and game and search and rescue, according to the organization’s website. The regional and national certifications have been upheld by more than 78 U.S. Supreme and Federal District Court rulings as a test for police use.

The country is broken down into regions that participate and hold field trials annually. The Region 25 program will be held from March 14-18, throughout several Graham ISD school facilities, with several activities open for public viewing. GISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse spoke during the February board of trustees meeting regarding hosting the program.

“We’ve been working with the Graham Police Department. They will be hosting a United States Police Canine Association event the week of our spring break. And that means there’s going to be a bunch of teams here from a certain region of the country, officers and their canine officers, doing various drills, contests, challenges, if you will,” he said. “So they’ll be doing a bunch of stuff out on the football field on the Monday and Tuesday of spring break, and that stuff is for public view. Everybody can watch that. The stuff that won’t be public view, they’ll be using our CTE wing at the high school and parts of the junior high to do some other drill parts that won’t be public viewed, so we’re working with them for the use of our school facilities and glad to partner with them on that.”

For the full story, see the Wednesday, March 2 edition of The Graham Leader.