Metro has top dogs in Las Vegas K-9 Trials

Karen Zekan

Monday, Oct. 20, 1997 | 11:12 a.m.

Metro Police's dogs have had their day, capturing, along with their handlers, the highest honors at Sunday's seventh annual Las Vegas K-9 Trials.

Awards included the coveted top agency and top dog trophies.

Metro's victory was even sweeter, teammates said, coming before a hometown crowd of more than 500 spectators who packed the Western High School stadium bleachers for the day-long event that tested the dogs' agility with an obstacle course, amid gunfire and with agitators in bite suits.

Top law enforcement teams from Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona and Idaho competed Sunday, and a New Mexico team was among entries for the multi-state narcotics phase of Saturday's competitions, which were closed to the public.

A shocker came Saturday in the building search when Redondo Beach Police Officer Ken Greenleaf's partner, Asko, was the only dog out of 33 teams to find a suspect hidden in a warehouse.

Officer Bob Hindi and his 6 1/2-year-old German shepherd, Ex, dominated in their third straight Las Vegas trials. They carted home the grand champion trophy in the top dog category, a first-place plaque for handler protection, and a fourth place for Saturday's area search.

"God is so faithful," an elated Hindi said on the field at trials' end, encircled by family and friends. "I prayed and prayed. Ex had the potential; it was just a matter of putting it together. It was his, and our, day. It's just a speechless feeling."

Despite a shoulder injury Ex suffered in training a week ago and a sketchy trot across a rickety chain-suspended board in Sunday morning's obstacle course, the duo executed a stellar performance during the handler protection phase, which challenged handlers to send, call-off and let their dogs attack agitators.

"Ex's days will come to an end eventually, and it will probably tear my heart out," the nine-year Metro veteran said of the K-9 partner he's teamed with for four years. Ex's prize for the day: a knuckle rawhide bone. "I was blessed with one very special dog. There's a special bond between us."

Perhaps the most remarkable bond surfaced between West Covina, Calif., Police Officer Lori Hayden and her 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, Tillie.

This golden-coated young canine impressed even the most seasoned of competitors, making dead stops upon command while in a full-speed charge and nailing nearly every challenge with a silent intensity rarely found in the typically vocal, high-energy Malinois breed.

Most handlers get their dogs from several months up to a year or more old from European breeders, but Tillie was born in Hayden's hands in an unexpected litter of two Pomona police dogs. Already a veteran handler, Hayden raised the pup to become her police partner and named her after her mother who died when Hayden was 13.

Tillie overcame a near-deadly bout with parvo virus at 4 months of age, and graduated last Friday from her K-9 training school as the No. 1 dog in a class of 60. She also took first in the area search, second in handler protection and third in the top dog category.

Their secret: "Lots of love," Hayden said, en route to award her winning dog with kisses. "She's a fighter, just like my mom. Tillie was the runt of her litter, she nearly died. It's a very special bond."

Even dog-handler teams with the tightest of bonds, however, had to come to terms with the Las Vegas turf.

With the mercury climbing, red faces and panting partners were the norm.

"The heat's really killing us," said West Valley City Police Officer Doug Paulsen who with his partner, Aron, contributed to the department's second-place award for top agency.

"Ten days ago, our dogs were working in the snow. Their winter fur has already come in and today their in the heat."

The heat also challenged Chris Jensen and his German shepherd York, the one and only K-9 team in Cassia County, Idaho, sheriff's office.

"This is our first trials ever," Jensen said, after putting York into his air-conditioned truck. "They put on a really good show here, it's well organized. It's showed us areas we need to work on."

Sgt. Rory Tuggle, who supervises Metro's K-9 section, was pleased with the top agency prize and that his dog, Cigan, was able to make it through the event despite purple-bandaged paws from chemical burns suffered while searching for a suspect last week.

"Even with the home-field advantage, you can't train for a crowd of 500 people in the stands, clapping, cheering," Tuggle said. "We had lots of really solid performances. They weren't the prettiest, but they got the job done."