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 News Release

Atlanta Police K-9 Team Wins First Place at Competition

The Atlanta Police Department sent 8 K-9 teams to compete in the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) Region 22 Top Dog Awards in Narcotics Detection April 12-17 in Decatur, Alabama. The USPCA competition is an annual competition that allows officers and their canines to compete in a variety of challenges.

Officer R. Sperl and his K-9 Arna, an 11 year old female German Shepard won the top prize at the annual competition. Officer Sperl and Arna have been partners for the last nine years and have won the top USPCA regional award 5 times.

“Training is a continuous thing for us,” said Officer Sperl. “We work daily on simple obedience, leash control, search structure and detection work. It's important for Arna to maintain a sense of structure so she can do what she is trained to do.”

Since hitting the streets, Officer Sperl and Arna have conducted 3,270 searches for illegal narcotics throughout the City of Atlanta. They have been instrumental in recovering millions of dollars in narcotics and narcotics assets, involved in hundreds of arrests and securing countless state and federal convictions on serious offenders.

“The services our K-9 Officers and canines provide are invaluable. I’m proud of not only the first place finish but the unit as a whole,” said Chief George N. Turner. “Their training and consistent commitment to excellence is indicative of the hard work they put in every day.”

The Atlanta Police Department K-9 Unit has taken The Top Dog award for 10 consecutive years.

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Our mission is to create a safer Atlanta by reducing crime, ensuring the safety of our citizens and building trust in partnership with our communities.

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