For several days, the fields and training grounds around Chattanooga filled with the sharp commands of handlers and the focused energy of police dogs at work.
Nearly 40 K-9 teams from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee moved through a series of demanding exercises – searching rooms for hidden narcotics, tracking down evidence, responding to simulated criminal encounters and demonstrating the discipline that underpins every successful deployment.
By the end of the week, the Chattanooga Police Department had done more than host the regional trials organized under the United States Police Canine Association. Its three competing teams had all earned certification and collected a total of seven awards, a showing that placed the department among the event’s strongest performers.
At the center of that success was Officer David Gerity and his K-9 partner, Sully, whose performance stood out across multiple categories. The pair earned first place in criminal apprehension and in narcotics detection during room searches, then went on to claim the top overall score in narcotics detection – an honor often referred to as “Top Dog.”
They also placed second overall among dual-purpose K-9 teams and finished third in the PD1 division, in addition to a second-place finish in article search.
That top narcotics score carries added significance. It qualifies Gerity and Sully to compete at the association’s national police dog field trials, scheduled for September in Abilene, Texas, where top teams from across the country will meet.
Another Chattanooga team, Master Police Officer Lucas Timmons and his veteran K-9 partner Burt, also turned in a strong performance. Burt, one of the unit’s most experienced dogs, helped secure a second-place finish in narcotics detection during room search exercises, underscoring the consistency that often comes with years of training and fieldwork.
For Officer Frisco Sherill and K-9 Tatonka, the event marked a beginning rather than a culmination. The pair successfully completed certification in their first-ever USPCA trial, an early milestone that signals their readiness to join the department’s operational rotation.
While the competition highlighted skill and precision, it also carried moments of reflection. During the awards ceremony, MPO Paul Winkelman received the Medal of Valor for Dedicated Service in honor of K-9 Diesel, who died in the line of duty in September 2025.
The recognition served as a reminder that behind the drills and accolades is a job that carries real risk – for both handlers and the dogs who work beside them.
The United States Police Canine Association, the nation’s oldest and largest police K-9 organization, sets rigorous standards for certification in patrol and narcotics detection. While not all law enforcement agencies require those certifications, Chattanooga does.
Each team must meet nationally recognized benchmarks, demonstrating not only technical proficiency but also the ability to operate safely in unpredictable, real-world situations.
The USPCA sets national standards for certification in patrol and narcotics detection, and Chattanooga requires all of its K-9 teams to meet them. The week’s results offered a snapshot of that standard in action – from experienced teams like Timmons and Burt to newer ones like Sherill and Tatonka – and secured a place for Gerity and Sully on the national stage this fall.
Source: Chattanooga Police Department