(LINO LAKES) – Anyone who drove in and around Lino Lakes, Lexington, and Circle Pines for a few days earlier this week likely noticed a large number of police vehicles–many of them from out of town–on the main roads and particularly around Centennial High School.
It wasn’t a huge sting operation. It was because Lino Lakes Public Safety hosted the United States Police Canine Association Region 12 PD1 Certification June 17th and 18th.
“Everybody loves a dog!” said Sgt. Melissa Christensen of LLPD, who helped organize the event that spread across three schools in the Centennial School District over the two days.
“It’s a great way for us to show off our department, the resources we have,” she said. “It benefits everyone.”
Officers received support in the form of family, friends, and co-workers showing up to cheer them on as the dogs were put through the paces of exercises on agility, obedience, and suspect apprehension.
“They are very, very good at what they’re doing,” said Officer Pete Noll of Lino Lakes Police Department, who is cycling out as the department’s K-9 handler after many years. “To be able to have that resource (the trained dogs) that we don’t have to call for (from another department), we always have it here. If we have someone that goes running, if we have a missing child, if we have that stuff, we’re able to get that resource here as quick as we can, and try to get those things fixed.”
The dogs have to have the certification every year, and those with the best scores were recognized at a wrap-up gathering at St. Joseph of the Lakes Catholic Church.
