Metro’s K-9 detail captures trials

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998 | 12:07 p.m.

Metro Police's K-9 detail captured top honors at this weekend's Eighth Annual Police K-9 Trials held in Las Vegas.

Metro was presented with the Top Agency trophy at the end of the three-day competition that featured dog and handler teams from Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona, the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Forest Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Metro Officer Steve Junge and Breston, his 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, won the prestigious Top Dog award, which goes to the patrol dog team with the highest overall average from all categories.

Metro's other winners included: Sgt. Rory Tuggle and German shepherd Cigan, first place in building search, area search and tactical obedience competitions; Officer Tom Moore and black Labradors Zack and Mars, first in the explosives category; Officer Frank Sorrentino and German shepherd Danny, first in handler protection; Junge and Breston, first in agility, third in handler protection and fifth in building search; and Officer Eric Kearns and his German shepherd Matjo, second in agility.

This year's trials were dedicated in memory of Lt. Hal Miller, a 33-year Las Vegas police veteran and founder of the department's K-9 unit, who died in December.