Woodbury Police Department To Host K-9 Trials

Woodbury will see some doggone smart canines next week, when the hosts the United States Police Canine Association Region 18 trials June 12-14.

According to Woodbury officer Jeff Gottstein, the annual event will involve approximately 70 teams of police canines and their officer handlers, who come from a five-state area every year for certification or recertification.

All events will be open to the public and will take place at various locations throughout the city, including and high schools. A special public exhibition is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, at the East Ridge football stadium.

Over the course of the three-day event, people will have the opportunity to watch the specially trained dogs demonstrate their abilities while they go through testing in obedience, agility, article and suspect searches, and criminal apprehension (with and without gunfire).

Gottstein is handler for Levi, one of Woodbury’s two highly skilled K-9s. Officer Jason Posel works with Niko, the city’s other dedicated police dog.

“(Levi is) a really great partner to have," said Gottstein, who described his career as “a very specific specialty.”

He has 12 years of experience as a K-9 handler. "It’s what I always wanted to do.”

“The dogs do a lot of narcotics work and are especially helpful as psychological deterrents in potential confrontations, where someone is not too happy with the officer,” Gottstein said. “The dog’s mere presence de-escalates the situation pretty quickly. In all my years, I have never had a physical attack. … These K-9s are highly dedicated to protecting lives.”

One of the main goals of the annual event, which has always been open to the community, is “to raise awareness of how highly skilled and trained (the dogs) are,” Gottstein said.

“It’s very important that the public is able to see the high level of training and skills of these K-9 ... (which) are protecting them every day and serving the community,” he said.

Also, as part of the event, the police department is looking to raise funds for another K-9, which can cost $30,000(*) or more, Gottstein said.

“We’re in the midst of establishing a K-9 foundation. The donations will also go toward a K-9 memorial for previous K-9s who have served, as well as to help with medical and food costs for retired K-9s—because once (a dog) retires, ownership is transferred to its handler,” he said. “Both Officer Posel and I feel that our dogs deserve the best in care, food and comfort after retirement—that they are deserving of that, considering how very dedicated they have been in protecting us and serving the community.”

There are about 200 K-9 teams in Minnesota, according to Gottstein, made up of patrol dogs and narcotics dogs. Also, several of the dogs that are on the Animal Planet show, K9 Cops, from the St. Paul Police Department will be in Woodbury to qualify.

Visit the City of Woodbury website for more information about this event, including details about times and locations of the various activities and trials that will take place June 12-14.

(*) An earlier version of this story said $3,000.