For the third year in a row, Brookhaven Police DepartmentSergeant Clint Earls and Police K-9 Felix, brought home the top doghonor from the United States Police Canine Association Region 26competition.

The competition, with portions held in Ridgeland and Brandon,provides more than an opportunity to compete but an opportunity tolearn.

“The whole thing is geared toward educational purposes,” Earlssaid. “They teach new searching methods and concealmentmethods.”

The competition is broken down into two sections. The firstsection, narcotics, consists of indoor and outdoor searches wherethe dogs have to identify the four major odors; marijuana, crystalmeth, heroin and crack cocaine, Earls said. The second section wasa patrol competition that consisted of obedience, advanced agility,article search, criminal apprehension and suspect searchevents.

Each event in the patrol section has specific requirements thedog must meet. In the criminal apprehension event the dogs mustrespond to a false start, where the dog can’t move, a recall, wherea decoy suspect breaks and the dog has to go so far before thehandler must call him back, and bite capabilities, were the dogsare judged on bite release at the command of the handler, Earlssaid.

“For the suspect search the dog has to search six boxes where adecoy is hiding in one. The dog receives 70 points for identifyingthe correct box,” he said.

The competition began May 22 and ended May 26 with an awardsbanquet. Sgt. Earls and Felix received a second place in the patrolcompetition, individual metals in box search, obedience and teamevents. Felix also received the honor of being named top dog.

“The narcotics scores are added to the patrol score,” Earlssaid. “The dog with the high score gets the top dog award which isthe highest in the state.”

With this honor Earls and Felix have the option of competingnationally in St. Paul, Minn.

“I am proud of Clint and Felix,” Police Chief Arlustra “Pap”Henderson, said. “They are doing an outstanding job in thesecompetitions, but also in the city of Brookhaven. It’s nice to knowyou have a team like Clint and Felix,” he said. “I trust himcompletely.”

Earls and Felix are available for demonstrations. Anyorganization who would like a demonstration of the top dog’sabilities may contact Chief Henderson to arrange a date.