FOLEY – The Foley Sports Tourism Complex partnered with the Foley Police Department to host the 47th Annual National Police Dog Field Trials, which took place Sept 25-28, with a free public demonstration taking place the evening of Sept 28.

The competition brought 34 law enforcement agencies and 84 teams from all over the nation to Foley, all looking to test their skills in multiple categories during the week-long trial.

During last year’s trials, Foley Police Officers Carlos Lizarraga and Daniel Hudson participated in a four-man team that placed 5th overall. During this year’s trials, K9 Cpl. Lizarraga and his dog Saban walked away with the awards for 2nd place overall in Apprehension Work with and without gunfire and 3rd place in the overall competition. Aside from competing, Lizarraga also received the Tim Heritage Memorial Award for outstanding services rendered as the chairman of the 47th ANPDFT.

“This was one of the best events according to the contestants,” said Lizarraga. “Everyone was treated with much respect and enjoyed visiting our area. We couldn’t have put this event on without the help of our community, so a big thanks to everyone who had a part in this event.”

The contestants competed at a score that started at 700 and worked its way down, with the top three teams, Lizarraga and Saban included, losing less than 12 points.

To begin the demonstration, each competing team drove in a procession to the sports field with their lights and sirens going. The competing teams then treated the audience to the trials that they had performed throughout the week, including obedience, agility, evidence search, and criminal apprehension with and without gunfire. The last event, criminal apprehension with gunfire, was demonstrated to the audience by Lizarraga and Saban.

The Alabama Highway Patrol stopped by the event in a helicopter, lowering to the ground to allow a K9 Officer and his dog to apprehend a “criminal” before he could escape.

The United States Police Canine Association is the oldest and largest certifying law enforcement canine organization in the US, with over 3,000 members from around the nation. For anyone interested in watching the K-9 Units in action, next year’s competition will be taking place in Huntsville, Alabama, and will be returning locally in 2019 when the trials will be held in Gulf Shores.