WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE – The K9 Division at Baton Rouge Police Department finished fifth in the nation in a recent competition with other law enforcement dog teams from across the country.

Several BRPD handlers also placed in individual categories at the USPCA National Dog Trials in Hammond. They include:

• Sgt. Wayne Martin and K-9 Bam Bam finished 2nd in Criminal Apprehension.
• Cpl. Jesse Barcelona and K-9 Gino finished 3rd in Criminal Apprehension.
• Cpl. Kenneth Clark and K-9 Xander finished 3rd in Agility.
• Cpl. Jesse Barcelona and K-9 Gino finished 17th overall.

The Monza Award was also presented posthumously to BRPD K9 Philos who died in a car crash while on duty Oct. 16, 2009. The award is named for a police K9 who died in the line of duty in the 1970s.