Two Ironwood State Prison (ISP) K-9 teams competed in the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Trials placing first overall and third in vehicle search.
The Nov. 3 trials, co-hosted by the Riverside Sheriff’s Association, welcomes all full-time law enforcement and military handlers. There were 67 teams participating in this year’s event.
Among the participants were ISP K-9 Officer J. Martin with his canine partner Camo and Officer A. Fernandez with his canine partner Nala.
For six-and-a-half years, Martin and Camo have helped CDCR fulfill its public safety mission. Meanwhile, Fernandez and Nala have been doing the same for two years.
Officer J. Martin and his canine partner Camo have been partners for approximately six and a half years. Officer A. Fernandez and his canine partner Nala have been partners for approximately two years. The ISP teams competed in three narcotic detection events including searches of a building, parcel, and vehicle.
The events were scored by judges who looked at various aspects during the search, such as time it took for the handler and their canine to discover the contraband. They also looked closely at the teamwork between the handler and their canine.
At the end, awards were distributed to the top K-9 teams. Fernandez and Nala took third place in vehicle search. Meanwhile, Martin and Camo claimed the overall first place award of Top Narcotic Detection Dog. This the second year in a row they’ve claimed the top spot.
Submitted by Lt. C. Whalen, AA/PIO
Ironwood State Prison
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