THOMASVILLE — While undergoing annual recertification requirements, two Thomasville Police Department K9s brought home trophies.

Victorious K9s Koda and Kaiko participated in field trials at the U.S. Police Canine Association in Petal, Mississippi, from Feb. 12-15.

K9 officer Cpl. Brandon Kent’s K9 Koda finished second in agility field trials and certification.

Kaiko, whose K9 officer is Haley Jensen, TPD’s first female K9 officer, finished third in overall patrol dog team.

“Every year, the dogs must be re-certified in all aspects of what the dog does,” said police Maj. Shane Harris.

Areas of training include narcotics, building search, article search, agility, obedience and criminal apprehension.

TPD has two K9s. 

“We have one that just retired,” Harris said.

Officers are submitting applications for new K9 officers who would be in charge of a dog.

Police K9s cost about $10,000 with some training. The officer and K9 undergo two months of training together.

The K9’s training is fine-tuned while learning to communicate with the handler, who learns to read the dog’s body language.

Canines have a keen sense of smell, Harris said.

“It is said a dog can smell 100 times better that a human because of their olfactory system,” he added.

A K9’s sense of smell is particularly valuable in drugs and missing person cases, Harris said, and when someone commits a crime and leaves the scene. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820