Five canine troopers and their trooper / handlers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (ADPS) participated in the annual, “Desert Dog K-9 Trials,” on April 16-17, 2016.
ADPS canine “Yoke” was recognized as the “Top Dog” during the 14th Annual Desert Dog Police Canine Trials. Yoke and his handler, Trooper Casey Yartym, received this prestigious award after competing in several difficult trial events.
The trials provided challenging events designed to test the canines and their handlers in area searches, explosives or narcotics detection, handler/officer protection, tactical obedience, obstacle negotiation, and finally a tough dog competition.
More than 50 police canine teams from law enforcement agencies throughout Arizona, California, New Mexico and Baja, Mexico, competed in this year’s event.
“Our success at the Desert Dog Canine Trials is a result of Department’s commitment to provide quality, reality based training for our canine trooper / handlers and their partners. Our canines are a tremendous asset to the Department and other law enforcement agencies, as they are used to detect and apprehend criminal offenders and drug traffickers,” said Capt. Chris Hemmen the Canine District Commander.
Trials Results:
1st Place: Top Dog, Yoke and Tpr. Casey Yartym
1st Place: Tactical Challenge, Yoke and Tpr. Casey Yartym
1st Place: Obedience, Lars and Tpr. Dean McMains
3rd Place: Handler Protection, Trusje and Tpr. Roderick Whitewater
4th Place: Area Search, Lars and Tpr. Dean McMains
4th Place: Handler Protection, Yoke and Tpr. Casey Yartym
6th Place: Area Search, Yoke and Tpr. Casey Yartym
ADPS Team Awards:
4th Place: Detection
4th Place: Patrol
The Arizona Department of Public Safety is a state-level law enforcement agency whose mission is to protect human life and property by enforcing state laws, deterring criminal activity, ensuring highway and public safety.