Versailles: Senior Trooper Chris Richey of Versailles District and his K-9 partner, Rayner were recently named “Top Overall K-9 Team” after competing in a two-day competition in Rock Island, TN. S/Tpr. Richey and Rayner competed against approximately 25 other law enforcement K-9 teams from Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Oklahoma in the event April, 9 and 10. Teams were judged in two categories; Patrol and Narcotics. S/Tpr. Richey and Rayner placed first in Patrol and second in Narcotics making them the top overall team. According to S/Tpr. Richey, the Patrol Competition was judged on tactics, officer safety, proper K-9 deployment, speed, and accuracy while the Narcotics Competition was judged on accuracy, speed, and overall effectiveness as a team.
S/Tpr. Richey commented, “Although this was a competition it was also a time to network with other agencies and K-9 handlers from other parts of the country. It was a great venue to learn other officer’s tactics and hopefully pass on to younger officers what I have learned during my 8 years as a K-9 handler.” S/Tpr. Richey and Rayner have been a team since October, 2012.
