PORT ANGELES – Convoys of police cars milling about aren’t on the North Olympic Peninsula to catch scofflaws. At least not yet.
A total of 127 police units from throughout the state are in Port Angeles and vicinity for a K-9 training conference.
About 90 officers and their dog partners arrived for the three-day conference, which started Monday.
The rest of the units are trainers and other facilitators, said Cpl. Kevin Miller of the Port Angeles Police Department.
“This is a way to get some training for the dogs and also make sure they stay accredited as K-9 units,” Miller said.
The dogs must receive yearly training to stay accredited as K-9 officers.
Dog handlers Miller and Kristine Fairbanks of the U.S. Forest Service are organizing the seminar.
Miller’s dog, Arco, and the Port Angeles Police Department’s other K-9 officer, Kilo ,got some training, but most of the exercises were saved for the visiting canines and their handlers.
The three-day seminar of the State Police Canine Association will train K-9 handlers and dogs to search for narcotics and explosives as well as to track suspects and secure vehicles and buildings.
The K-9 dogs are considered officers, and carry badges.
The handlers association has about 180 members in Washington.
The seminars draw officers from Alaska, Canada, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
