MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office K9 teams and their patrol deputy handlers have earned prestigious national certification from the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA).
The four-month patrol K9 handlers’ course, hosted by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department’s K9 Unit, provided extensive training in obedience, article searches, patrol response, building searches, and tracking.
Certified teams include Deputy Christian Salter with K9 Timo, Deputy Brandon Baines with K9 Odin, Deputy David Vega with K9 Jack, and Deputy Sydney Segroves with K9 Ryker. Notably, Salter and Timo earned the coveted Top Dog Award for their exceptional performance, according to Sheriff’s K9 Unit Sgt. David Ashburn.
With this certification, Timo, Odin, Jack, and Ryker join Deputy Aaron Price and K9 Hector as dual-purpose patrol and narcotics canines. Deputy Richard Tidwell and his bloodhound, Fred, specialize in search and rescue operations. Sgt. Ashburn and K9 Pablo, a SWAT-assigned dual-purpose patrol and narcotics canine, are also trained in explosives detection.
Pablo, a combat-tested dog donated by a Special Forces Unit from Fort Campbell, has completed two tours in Syria and is specially trained for close-quarters combat operations.
“The dogs we have selected have the drive to work and play,” said Sgt. Ashburn. “They have a ‘never give up’ attitude. The dogs are trained to believe that nothing in this world is more powerful than them, and they can overcome any challenge they encounter.”
K9 patrol duties include responding to crimes in progress, suspect apprehension, tracking suspects, locating hidden subjects, and detecting illegal narcotics and explosives. Sgt. Ashburn emphasized that police K9s can often provide a less-lethal alternative during dangerous situations, serving as both a deterrent and an effective law enforcement tool.
The USPCA is the nation’s largest, continuously operating organization dedicated to promoting high standards and certifications for police canine teams.
