K9 Olympics
The 18th annual K9 Olympics were held at Vohne Liche Kennels in Peru, Indiana on August 8th through August 12th. The Lafayette Police Department K9 unit competed in individual events, as well as team events with the Tippecanoe County Metro K9 unit. The LPD team members competed against K9 units from around the United States, as well as agencies from around the world. Also participating were Federal K9 units from the United States Department of Defense and United States Secret Service.
The Lafayette Police Department K9 participants included Officer Lonnie Wilson with his K9 partner Joeri, Officer Ryan French with K9 Roy, and Officer Shea Saxton with K9 Boyka. LPD officer, Austin Schutter, also participated with his K9 partner, Rocky.
The Lafayette Police Department K9 team members collected 12 top ten finishes.
- Officer Wilson and K9 Joeri received top ten finishes in building searches, decoy, door bottoms, luggage searches, open area searches, road clearing, and warehouse searches.
- Officer Ryan French and K9 Roy received top ten finishes in the residential search competition.
- Officer Shea Saxton and K9 Boyka were awarded top ten finishes in area search, door bottoms, luggage, residential search competition, road clearing, and scramble.
- Officer Austin Schutter and K9 Rocky received top ten finishes door bottoms.
Team competition, consisting of Officer Shea Saxton and K9 Boyka, Officer Jim Knogge with K9 Vasco, and Officer Lonnie Wilson with K9 Joeri, collected a 6th place overall finish in team narcotics detection. The team also placed and 12th in the team patrol events.
The Police Department would also like to thank local community member, Richard Belcher, for his donation of materials and time in reconstructing the Tippecanoe County Metro K9 unit’s obstacle training course. The obstacle course will be used to train K9 units and their handlers, as well as to prepare for special events, such as the Annual K9 Olympics. A ceremony to recognize Mr. Belcher will take place at the Dayton Police Department on Friday, September 22nd, at 4:00 pm. Several K9 Units and handlers will attend the ceremony.
We would like to congratulate the entire K9 unit for their hard work in keeping the community safe and their performances at the K9 Olympics.
Sgt. B.T. Brown
Lafayette Police