Lansdowne police officer Jonathan McGowan takes Chapek, a six year old Belgian Malinois over the four foot wall in the obstacle course at the Sixth Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition Saturday at AG Cornog Field behind Haverford Middle School. (PETE BANNAN - DAILY TIMES)
The public had a chance to see some of the intense training that police K9 officers practice this past Saturday as the 6th Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition was held on the football field at Haverford High School.
Officers from a number of Delaware County communities along with Philadelphia, Temple University and West Chester University took part.
Philadelphia police officer Michael Cahill carries Ace a two year-old Belgian Malinois through across the finish line of the obstacle course at the Sixth Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition Saturday.The challenge requires the uniformed officer to carry his partner to safety in case of injury. The duo took home the co-honors for the over all win at this year's competition. (PETE BANNAN - DAILY TIMES)
Haverford police officer Lawrence McLaughlin takes Bohdi, a two year old Belgian Malinois over the six foot wall during the obstacle course at the Sixth Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition Saturday at AG Cornog Field behind Haverford Middle School. (PETE BANNAN - DAILY TIMES)
Haverford police officer Thomas McDermott takes Axel, a seven year-old Belgian Malinois through the obstacle course at the Sixth Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition Saturday at AG Cornog Field behind Haverford Middle School. (PETE BANNAN - DAILY TIMES)
Haverford police K9 Axel goes through a window the obstacle course at the Sixth Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition Saturday at AG Cornog Field behind Haverford Middle School. (PETE BANNAN - DAILY TIMES)
Radnor police officer Brett Ggreavestt takes Onyx a two year old German Shepard through the obstacle course at the Sixth Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition Saturday at AG Cornog Field behind Haverford Middle School. (PETE BANNAN - DAILY TIMES)
Haverford's newst police K9, Bohdi sprints through the obstacle course at the Sixth Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition Saturday at AG Cornog Field behind Haverford Middle School. (PETE BANNAN - DAILY TIMES)
Lansdowne police officer Jonathan McGowan takes Chapek, a six year old Belgian Malinois over the four foot wall in the obstacle course at the Sixth Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition Saturday at AG Cornog Field behind Haverford Middle School. (PETE BANNAN - DAILY TIMES)
Philadelphia police officer James Zimmerman directs, Dinero,a four year-old Belgian Malinois through the obstacle course at the Sixth Annual Delaware County Police K9 Competition Saturday at AG Cornog Field behind Haverford Middle School. The duo took home the over all win at this year's competition in a tie with Officer Cahil and Ace. (PETE BANNAN - DAILY TIMES)
Among the K9’s taking part was one year-old Bodhi, Haverford’s newest K9. Bodhi is from Poland and went to K9 School in March of this year. Bohdi will be turning 2 years old on Dec. 20 and trains with his handler, Officer Lawrence McLaughlin.
Officers train constantly to build to work as a team. Among the challenges they took part in with apprehension of a suspect,focused apprehension, searching for a hidden article in which they are trained to sniff out and the obstacle course competition which takes the K9’s through windows, over 6-foot walls, through tunnels and ends with the human officer carrying the K9 to 30 yards to safety in a simulated injury.
This year Philadelphia officers took top spots with two K9 teams as the over-all-winners, Officer Cahill with K9 Ace and Officer Zimmerman with K9 Dinero. Along with the trophies and medals the K9’s get top treats.
