Not Just Dog Tricks; K-9s Receive Training In Law Enforcement Tactics

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Tampa Bay's newest law enforcement recruits have been known to urinate on fire hydrants, drink out of toilets, slobber on the windows and drool on the seats of their police cruisers.

But on the positive side, these graduates are eager to please, quick to obey commands and perfectly content to be paid for their work in Milk Bones.

Five furry, four-legged cops and their partners were honored last week after completing training and graduating from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office K-9 Law Enforcement Academy.

The five teams began training with Pinellas sheriff's K-9 trainer, Deputy Tony Lorusso, Jan. 17, learning obedience commands, bite work, how to search buildings and areas, tracking and sniffing out lost kids and criminals on the run.

The bleachers of the Pinellas Park High School football field were filled with family and friends April 27 as the five dogs demonstrated their newly acquired skills.

Now the K-9s and their partners will hit the streets on behalf of their respective law enforcement agencies: the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the Pinellas Park Police Department, Clearwater Police Department and the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

After getting some patrol experience under their collars, select dogs will continue training in narcotic and explosives detection.

Friday's graduates are:

K-9 Magz and Deputy Nick Hunter with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
K-9 Drogo and Deputy Kellen Zanandrie, with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
K-9 Mavrik and Officer Cameron Williams with the Pinellas Park Police Department
K-9 Krys and Officer Adrian Kwiatkowski with the Clearwater Police Department
K-9 Chase and Deputy Chelsea Reid with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.