Crime & Safety

Local Police Dogs Get High Marks During Trials Competition

K9s from Temecula, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore showed their mettle during the Nov. 3 event.

For a police dog, 65-pound Tessa is a little on the small side and she’s got a high-pitched ladylike bark that seems so sweet.

But make no mistake: You don’t want to tangle with this girl.

Tessa, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, was one of nearly 50 California law enforcement K9 teams that turned out for the 17th Annual Riverside Sheriff Association K9 Trials presented at the Villa Portofino Clubhouse in Palm Desert Nov. 3.

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The event included law enforcement canines from Murrieta and Temecula, as well as Tessa, who serves alongside deputies in Lake Elsinore and Wildomar. [Read more about Tessa’s training and lifestyle here.]

“During the competition, handlers and their canine partners negotiated a series of challenges common to the use of police service dogs. Some of the challenges included the detection of narcotics, handler protection and canine obedience,” said Sgt. Vic Trevino.

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The panel of judges were police canine trainers based on the West Coast and Nevada, the sergeant explained.

Officer James Smith and canine partner Nero of the Oceanside Police Department took home the Top Dog award for Saturday's Patrol Competition, but Southwest Riverside County K9s also ranked high.

Below is the list of all the Riverside Sheriff Association K9 Trials winners, including those from local law enforcement agencies:

Top Dog

James Smith / K9 Nero – Oceanside PD

Overall Novice

1. Richard Fransik / K9 Whiskey – RSO Perris
2. Sean Lawler / K9 King – Murrieta PD
3. Anis Trabelsi / K9 Maximus – Oceanside PD
4. Kevin Brooks / K9 Ivan – RSO Moreno Valley
5. Jay Elliot / K9 Kazan – Murrieta PD

Overall Open

1. Zach McWaters / K9 Nero – Ontario PD
2. James Jones / K9 Rico – Bakersfield PD
3. Matthew Saidlemann / K9 Arras – RSO Jurupa Valley
4. Fernando Paniagua / K9 Hektor – Baja State Police
5. Matt Cramer / K9 Rudy – RSO Temecula

Obedience

1. Joe Green / K9 Flak – Dos Palos PD
2. Pat Long / K9 Niko – Hemet PD
3. Barry Mann / K9 Scar – Dos Palos PD
4. Matthew Allert / K9 Acts – RSO Palm Desert County
5. Josh Darcus / K9 CoraLee – White Settlement PD, Texas

Agility

1. Trojo Cabrera / K9 Ciro – Policia Mexicali
2. Joe Green / K9 Flak – Dos Palos PD
3. Jeff Hurd / K9 Baron – RSO Hemet
4. Pat Long / K9 Niko – Hemet PD
5. Saul Arguello / K9 Lazkert – Policia Mexicali

Area Search

1. Heath Noyes / K9 Spike – RSO Jurupa Valley
2. Chuck Compton / K9 Jango – Rialto PD
3. Joe Maltese / K9 Smokey – Rialto PD
4. Steve Rivera / K9 Van Snapp – RSO Palm Desert
5. Derek Maddox / K9 Rosco – Hemet PD

Building Search

1. Joe Maltese / K9 Smokey – Rialto PD
2. John Sanchez / K9 Rossi – Kern County Probation
3. Steve Rivera / K9 Van Snapp – RSO Palm Desert
4. Carlos Gutierrez / K9 Lycan – Orange PD
5. John Monges / K9 Ringo – RSO Thermal

Protection

1. Justin Breen / K9 Kimo – Rialto PD
2. Glen Anderson / K9 Gilley – Rialto PD
3. Kari Cranfill / K9 Tessa – RSO Lake Elsinore
4. Heath Noyes / K9 Spike – RSO Jurupa Valley
5. Josh Darcus / K9 CoraLee – White Settlement PD, Texas

Evidence Search

1. Sean Lawlor / K9 King – Murrieta PD
2. Steve Rivera / K9 Van Snapp – RSO Palm Desert
3. Norbert Moll / K9 Tara – Murrieta PD
4. Zach McWaters / K9 Nero – Ontario PD
5. Matthew Allert / K9 Acts – RSO Palm Desert County

Area Narcotics

1. Zach McWaters / K9 Nero – Ontario PD
2. Norbert Moll / K9 Tara – Murrieta PD
3. James Jones / K9 Rico – Bakersfield PD
4. Trojo Cabrera / K9 Ciro – Policia Mexicali
5. Chuck Compton / K9 Jango – Rialto PD

Vehicle Narcotics

1. Jason Santistevan / K9 Ozzi – RSO Moreno Valley
2. Richard Fransik / K9 Whiskey – RSO Perris
3. James Jones / K9 Rico – Bakersfield PD
4. Fernando Paniagua / K9 Hektor – Baja State Police
5. Juan Salcido / K9 Rush – RSO SIB

Parcel Narcotics

1. Jason Santistevan / K9 Ozzi – RSO Moreno Valley
2. Matthew Saidleman / K9 Arras – RSO Jurupa Valley
3. Kevin Brooks / K9 Ivan – RSO Moreno Valley
4. Kari Cranfill / K9 Tessa – RSO Lake Elsinore 5.
Glen Anderson / K9 Gilley – Rialto PD

Overall Narcotics

1. Trevor Cullen / K9 Argo – Orange PD
2. Jeff Hurd / K9 Baron – RSO Hemet
3. Chad Staat / K9 Astin – RSO Temecula
4. Saul Arguello / K9 Lazkert – Policia Mexicali
5. Bret Cisneros / K9 Zuki – RSO Corrections


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