Foley Sports Tourism Complex is excited to be hosting the 2017 United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) K-9 Trials in partnership with the Foley Police Department on September 24-29.
The event features between 100 and 150 K-9 officers from around the country, competing in a range of events including apprehension with and without gunfire, article search, obedience, suspect search, and agility. The top dogs from each category and an overall winner will be crowned.
Foley Police Department is no stranger to the event, last year Officers Carlos Lizarraga and Daniel Hudson were part of a four-man team that placed fifth overall. This year, in addition to being the event’s operational manager, Lizarraga and his dog Saban will be teaming up with Hudson and his dog Titan and two officers from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to compete as a regional team.
“This is a huge moment for the Foley Police Department,” Lizarraga said. “We are not only competing with the best in the country but we are bringing that quality competition to the citizens we protect every day.”
Those citizens and others from around the region are encouraged to come out and enjoy the event. The planning team has organized a public demonstration on Thursday, September 28 at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex’s Championship Field. Spectators will get a chance to see the dogs in action at 6:30 p.m. but are encouraged to get there about a half an hour early to see the participants parade in with lights and sirens flashing.
Regional teams already signed up for the event include Foley Police Department, Gulf Shores Police Department, Escambia County Florida Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, and Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office. Everyone is encouraged to attend and root for their hometown officers.
“This is a chance for Foley Sports Tourism to not only share how versatile a site we are, but it also gives us a chance to support our community,” said David Thompson, interim Director of Foley Sports Tourism Complex. “We bring in top teams from around the country to many of our events. In this case though, we also have people we work beside on a regular basis competing. It’s an exciting moment as we get to see our city shine as we cheer from the sidelines.”
The USPCA is the largest and oldest organization that focuses on certifying police dogs. The organization’s mission is to standardize training methods and create best practices to encourage the efficient, quality detection and prevention of crime. For more on the USPCA visit their website at www.uspcak9.com
The media is welcome to attend any and all events. A media schedule is included. Anyone wishing to set up interviews can contact Foley Sports Tourism Complex Marketing and Communications Manager, Stephanie Donald at 251-284-0089.
For more information on this or any FSTC events, visit our website at www.FoleySportsTourism.com
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