Lakeland Police K-9 Unit Earns Second Place Team Honors

We are pleased to announce today the LPD K-9 Unit took overall second place "Department Team" honors in the 2007 USPCA National K-9 Trials. Congratulations to the Ramsey County (MN) Sheriff's Office who unseated LPD from the top team position this year.

The USPCA also recognizes the top 20 dogs in the annual competition. A total of 132 dogs participated in this year's trials. LPD had two dogs finish in the top 20 - Officer Ted Sealey with K-9  "Bodo" placed 3rd and Officer Aaron Peterman with K-9 "Charieff" placed 11th.

Of local interest, we congratulate Bartow PD Officer Michelle Smith with K-9 "Vegas" who took the 14th overall position. Congrats also go to former LPD K-9 Officer Leanne Bennett who moved to Georgia a year ago to be closer to family. She returned to Lakeland with K-9 "Keito" for the trials as a member of the team from Lowndes County (GA) Sheriff and took the 7th overall place.

The top dog in this year's trials went to Officer Jeff Ellis and K-9 Tazer from the Mower County (MN) Sheriff's Office. They scored an incredible 691 out of 700 possible points. Tazer is just an incredible dog and a real joy to watch in action.

We extend our congratulations to all the teams who participated in the trials and wish for you a safe return trip home.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere