L to R: Trooper Carlos Sisk, Troop A (Marianna), Trooper Chris Ellis, Troop A (Marianna), Sgt. Booney Mitchell (Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office), FHP Director Colonel John Czernis, K-9 Instructor Trooper Mike Van Leer,Trooper Joshua Mcleod, Troop F (Ft.Myers), Trooper Dusty Arnold, Troop H (Tallahassee).

The Florida Highway Patrol’s K-9 Academy recently completed their first Patrol Dog Training School. The five handlers and their K-9 partners received their diplomas from Colonel John Czernis during an informal graduation exercise at General Headquarters in Tallahassee.

The Patrol Dog Training School is a rigorous 480 hours of instruction and performance under the supervision, guidance, and instruction of FHP’s statewide instructor and evaluator Trooper Michael Van Leer. After a three week break the K-9 teams will begin the second phase of training, which consists of a 320 hour Drug Detection Course. The FHP Contraband Interdiction Program currently uses twenty-nine K-9’s statewide to help combat drug trafficking on Florida’s roadways.

Congratulations to all of our K-9 team members who successfully completed this demanding training!