The Warsaw and Winona Lake K-9 teams took top honors at the 10th Annual American Working Dog K-9 Olympics last month.
Warsaw Cpl. Allen Danko and Pako; Warsaw Cpl. Joel Beam and Buddy; and Winona Lake patrolman Joe Bumbaugh and Hugo took first place in the Overall K-9 Patrol Team competition, according to a written statement from the Warsaw Police Department.
The teams were judged on tracking people, obstacle courses, building searches, bite work, control of the dog and obedience.
The Olympics, conducted at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Ind., included more than 80 teams from across the country.
The K-9 units from Warsaw and Winona Lake train and work together on a regular basis, the statement said.
Other awards:
- Bumbaugh and Hugo took first place in the Tracking competition. In this Hugo was timed while following a track to find two items.
- Bumbaugh and Hugo took first place in the Narcotics Detection events, which included finding as many narcotics as quickly as possible.
- Beam and Buddy took second place in the Obedience competition, with the dog responding to voice commands and working through distractions.
