30th Annual K-9 Trials Hosted by the LVMPD Foundation

Initiative benefits the LVMPD Foundation

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department K-9 Section hosted the 30th Annual LVMPD K-9 Trials at South Point Arena on Sunday, March 20.  

Awards were presented to the top three teams:  Top Dog – David Brisendine and K-9 Maiko, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; Tough Dog – Rafael Casillas and K-9 Sky, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office; and Top Agency – Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 

Fifty-two teams from multiple agencies and hotels participated in the LVMPD K-9 Section in competitions for Narcotics, Bombs, Area Search, Building Search, Obedience, Agility, and Handler Protection. German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, Belgian Malinois’, Labradors, and English Springer Spaniels and competed in the seven different categories. Teams include police K-9 units and hotel security teams that were judged on many facets of their performance including handlers’ tactics.

Category winners:

Top Agency:  1^st place Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; 2^nd place North Las Vegas Police Department; and 3^rd place Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

Narcotics Vehicle Search:   1^st place Chris Cyr and K-9 Raider, Henderson Police Department; 2^nd place Ben Ricks and K-9 Daavo, Herriman City Police Department; and 3^rd place Vincent Diasparra and K-9 Leo, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Finding Narcotics in a Building: 1^st place Jed Baumbach and K-9 Buster, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; 2^nd place Ben Ricks and K-9 Daavo, Herriman City Police Department; and 3^rd place Thomas Bachman and K-9 Nuggetz, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Top Dog Narcotics:  1^st place Ben Ricks and K-9 Daavo, Herriman City Police Department; 2^nd place Thomas Bachman and K-9 Nuggetz, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; and 3^rd place Jed Baumbach and K-9 Buster, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Hotel Explosives:  1^st place Marco Pulido and K-9 Unit; 2^nd place Oshanna Remy and K-9 Lotto, Wynn Resorts Las Vegas; and 3^rd place Barry Hartman and K-9 Rocky, Wynn Resorts Las Vegas.

Explosive Detection:  1^st place Taylor Pendley and K-9 Lobo, Nevada State Police Highway Patrol; 2^nd place Charles Pope and K-9 Ivan, Nellis Air Force Base; and 3^rd place Toliver Sirmann and K-9 Seneca, Nellis Air Force Base.

Agility:  1^st place Eric Hutchason and K-9 Arko, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; 2^nd place Quinton Giallorenzo and K-9 Storm, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office; and 3^rd place Vincent Diasparra and K-9 Spike, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Tactical Obedience:  1^st place Ben Ricks and K-9 Daavo, Herriman City Police Department; 2^nd place Michael Sullivan and K-9 Nox, North Las Vegas Police Department; and 3^rd place Shane Day and K-9 Rudy, Riverside County Sherriff’s Office.

Handler Protection:  1^st place David Allen and K-9 Timber, West Valley City Police Department; 2^nd place David Brisendine and K-9 Maiko, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; and 3^rd place Brad Ryan and K-9 Chase, Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

Area Search:  1^st place Sid Lyons and K-9 Jimmy, North Las Vegas Police Department; 2^nd place Brad Ryan and K-9 Chase, Utah County Sherriff’s Office; and 3^rd place Quinton Giallorenzo and K-9 Storm, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

Building Search:  1^st place Michael Sullivan and K-9 Nox, North Las Vegas Police Department; 2^nd place Case Kepner and K-9 Lombe, North Las Vegas Police Department; and 3^rd place Sid Lyons and K-9 Jimmy, North Las Vegas Police Department.

LVMPD has one of the oldest, continuously operating K-9 units in the United States. This year, it celebrates its 57th year of operations that began with the City of Las Vegas Police Department in 1961, organized by Sergeant Harold Miller. The LVMPD K-9 Section includes 14 officers, three sergeants, and one lieutenant. The unit is currently comprised of 17 patrol dogs, five narcotic detector dogs, and five explosive detector dogs.  Five patrol dogs are also certified as human remains detectors. 

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation is the producer of the event. The nonprofit organization supports and supplements Metro area commands, special units like the K-9 section, equipment & technology, crime prevention events, and hundreds of positive community-police engagement activities, programs, and initiatives that help make Las Vegas safer for all.

About the LVMPD Foundation:

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that raises funds to support and supplement Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department programs and initiatives. The LVMPD Foundation was established in 1999 and is dedicated to supporting LVMPD area commands, special units, equipment, training, and hundreds of community engagement programs and initiatives that build relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officers are here to Protect and Serve our community, and together with law enforcement, we can help make our neighborhoods safer for all. Please join us in our important work by contributing at www.lvmpdfoundation.org