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Bella, a Douglas County Sheriff's Office K-9, looks to partner Joe Duffy during a narcotics search competition Saturday during the South Lake Tahoe Police Canine Association Trials.
Thugs wearing puffy coats took over the football field at South Tahoe High School on Saturday, tampering with vehicles, threatening officers and trying to flee from law enforcement.
But none of the hoodlums got far. Each quickly found himself in the jaws of a police dog, as about 35 canines from Northern California and Nevada competed in the South Lake Tahoe Police Canine Association Trials.
The competition included tests of obedience, agility, search, protection and narcotics detection, with many of the contests open to the public.
But none of the hoodlums got far. Each quickly found himself in the jaws of a police dog, as about 35 canines from Northern California and Nevada competed in the South Lake Tahoe Police Canine Association Trials.
The competition included tests of obedience, agility, search, protection and narcotics detection, with many of the contests open to the public.
In Saturday afternoon's test of suspect apprehension and bite work, canines and their officers faced four different scenarios on the football field.
In one, for example, a man playing a plainclothes officer shouted at a "suspect" near a vehicle: "Get away from the car, bad guy!" As the suspect began to flee, the canine officer deployed the dog - which earned points by attacking the correct man. Then, as the suspect surrendered, judges watched to see how quickly the canine responded when the officer called off the attack.
"These are not unguided missiles," El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Les Lovell, the announcer for part of the afternoon, said in introducing the competition.
The men involved in the role-playing were trained canine handlers who wore protective gear, including bulky suits that likely were uncomfortable in the hot summer sun.
In one, for example, a man playing a plainclothes officer shouted at a "suspect" near a vehicle: "Get away from the car, bad guy!" As the suspect began to flee, the canine officer deployed the dog - which earned points by attacking the correct man. Then, as the suspect surrendered, judges watched to see how quickly the canine responded when the officer called off the attack.
"These are not unguided missiles," El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Les Lovell, the announcer for part of the afternoon, said in introducing the competition.
The men involved in the role-playing were trained canine handlers who wore protective gear, including bulky suits that likely were uncomfortable in the hot summer sun.
Even with the protective gear, the role-players, also called "agitators," would be feeling the dog bites, Lovell said.
"The suits don't really protect you like you think they might," he said.
In fact, one of the role-players received a minor injury when a dog bit above a protective sleeve he was wearing, officials said.
"The suits don't really protect you like you think they might," he said.
In fact, one of the role-players received a minor injury when a dog bit above a protective sleeve he was wearing, officials said.
The overall winner of the competition was John Azevedo of Sacramento Police Department.
The competition had been slated to take place in Vallejo, but when that city backed out, South Lake Tahoe stepped in to host the event. Organizers are hoping it will be held here regularly.
The event was organized by South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Tony Broadfoot, Officer Mark Hounsell and Sgt. Josh Adler.
Funds raised by the event go to the nonprofit South Lake Tahoe Police Canine Association, whose mission is to promote the use of police dogs through educating the public and providing training and equipment for police dogs and their handlers.
The competition had been slated to take place in Vallejo, but when that city backed out, South Lake Tahoe stepped in to host the event. Organizers are hoping it will be held here regularly.
The event was organized by South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Tony Broadfoot, Officer Mark Hounsell and Sgt. Josh Adler.
Funds raised by the event go to the nonprofit South Lake Tahoe Police Canine Association, whose mission is to promote the use of police dogs through educating the public and providing training and equipment for police dogs and their handlers.
