10/09/2017
Congratulations to K-9 Tess and Sgt. Nelson Struck!
2017 Western CT Police K-9 Challenge Awards
Best Overall Team To Sgt. Nelson Struck and K-9 Tess
of Connecticut 928th Military Working Dogs, Army National Guard
— New Britain K-9 Dony Gets Best K-9 Award —
— Stamford Officer Willie Gilford Wins Best Handler Award —
— Stephen A. Ketchum “People’s Choice” Award to K-9 Axe of Stamford —
Newtown, CT – Connecticut military and police K-9s tackled the obstacle course, apprehended ‘suspects’, demonstrated their obedience skills, and competed for fastest dog bragging rights at the Third Annual Western CT Police K-9 Challenge on Oct. 7, 2017. Police K-9 teams from, New Britain, Fairfield, Stamford, Clinton, Portland, and the Connecticut 928th Military Working Dogs, Army National Guard, based in Newtown were among the top winners.
2017 Western CT Police K-9 Challenge Results
Winners were based on cumulative points earned in the individual events of tactical obedience, obstacle course, simunitions, suspect apprehension, and fastest dog.
Best Overall Team Awards
First: Connecticut 928th Military Police Working Dog Detachment, Army National Guard, based in Newtown - K-9 Tess, a 9-year-old female, Belgian Malinois, dual-purposed trained, with her handler Sgt. Nelson Struck.
Second: New Britain Police Department - K-9 Dony, a 2-year-old male, Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix, patrol trained with his handler Officer Emily Carrasquillo.
Third: Stamford Police Department - K-9 Axe, a 14-month-old male, Belgian Malinois/Dutch Shepherd mix, dual-purposed trained, and his handler Officer Willie Guilford.
Best K-9 Awards
First: K-9 Dony - a 2-year-old male, Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix, patrol trained, from the New Britain Police Department with his handler Officer Emily Carrasquillo.
Second: K-9 Nero - 2-year-old male, German Shepherd Dog dual-purpose trained in narcotics detection and patrol, from the Portland Police Department with his handler Sgt. Jim Kelly.
Third: K-9 Maverick - a 3-year-old male, German Shepherd Dog, from the Fairfield Police Department with his handler Officer Evan Kaesmann.
Best Handler Awards
First: Officer Willie Guildford from the Stamford Police Department with K-9 Axe, a 14-month-old male, Belgian Malinois/Dutch Shepherd mix, dual-purposed trained.
Second: Officer Jason Frey from the Clinton Police Department with K-9 Sonny, a 2-year-old male, German Shepherd Dog dual-purpose trained in patrol and narcotics.
Third: Officer Emily Carrasquillo from the New Britain Police Department with K-9 Dony, a 2-year-old male, Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix, trained in patrol.
Stephen A. Ketchum “People’s Choice” Award
Based on votes from the public to honor the memory of Newtown Police Officer Stephen A. Ketchum and his dedication to the community and the police department.
2017 Winner: K-9 Axe – a 14-month-old male, Belgian Malinois/Dutch Shepherd mix, dual-purposed trained, from the Stamford Police Department. Members of the Ketchum family presented the award.
The competition, held in Newtown at the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard (2GHG) was a fundraiser for the unit, hosted by the Newtown Kennel Club (NKC) and the Friends of Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard. Donations raised will help keep the 2GHG — one of the last cavalry units in the country — based here in Newtown.
Paula Wickham, Chris Sweetwood, and Erik Grasso judged the day’s competition. Newtown Police Officer Matt Hayes was the decoy ‘suspect.’ Opening ceremonies included the Police Pipes & Drums of Waterbury. The 2GHG Commandant Major James Marrinan and Friends of the 2GHG President Gordon Johnson assisted by NKC members, presented ribbons and medallions to the winners during the awards ceremony.
The 2017 Western CT K-9 Challenge was sponsored by ACI Dynamix, Harvest Properties, K-9 Crime Stoppers, Pet Aesthetics Salon & Boutique LLC, The Hometown Foundation, Inc., and Thermo King.
