Plymouth, IN – Two Marshall County Sheriff’s deputies and their K9 partners earned top honors while representing Indiana at the 26th Annual American Working Dog K9 Olympics and Certification Trials earlier this month.
According to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Deputies Blake Bennett with K9 Diesel and Alex Truty with K9 Bear competed in the national event held August 10-15 at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana. The competition brought together about 100 K9 teams from military special forces, private contractors, and law enforcement agencies across the country.
The trials featured more than 30 events replicating real-world policing scenarios. Dogs and handlers were tested in narcotics detection, patrol work, human tracking, article searches, obedience, control, apprehensions, and obstacle courses. Each participating team also completed annual certifications during the event.
Deputy Bennett and K9 Diesel placed within the top ten in several patrol and detection categories, the department reported. The pair also secured a 3rd Place finish in Narcotic Vehicle Exterior searches, earning recognition among some of the top K9 units nationwide.
Sheriff Matthew Hassel praised both teams for their performance and commitment to the department. “We are thankful for their hard work and dedication to our department and our community,” Hassel said in a statement.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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