Search
Member Login

National K-9 Awards Sponsors

FOUNDERS AWARD – Sponsored by Don Sterling This award, which is being sponsored by one of our founding members, and is intended to recognize a person who, like our Founders in 1971, demonstrates unselfish and tangible efforts for the good of the Association. The recipient frequently works ‘behind the scenes’, often without significant recognition, and has manifested the highest of qualities and ethos of the USPCA. This award open to all Regular Members of the Association. This award to be announced annually at the Detector Dog National Field Trials.

This award is a $1,000 grant to the recipient’s department or designated K-9 Unit.

(Note: An example of this award recipient may be a long-serving regional secretary, scorekeeper, national officer, trainer, judge, volunteer, and so on.)

 

PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Host Department Plaque – Sponsored by Purina

The President’s Award is presented to the host department recognizing the support given to their officers in hosting a national event.

TED HIRSCH MEMORIAL AWARD: Host Chair of Trials – Sponsored by Purina

The Ted Hirsch Memorial Award is presented in recognition of all of the many countless hours and preparation time devoted in order to conduct a national event. It is awarded in memory of Ted Hirsch who was the Chairman of the first Police Service Dog Trials in 1968 in Miami, Florida. Ted Hirsch was also the President of the Police K-9 Association, having changed its name from the Florida K-9 Association the year before. In 1971, the Police K-9 Association evolved into The United States Police Canine Association, Inc.

BILL ROBINSON MEMORIAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – Sponsored by AceK9


This award is given to the K-9 team that displays the highest degree of sportsmanship in action or attitude towards their dogs, other competitors, and the judges throughout the week-long series of events. The Bill Robinson Memorial Award is given in memory of Bill Robinson of Newburg, New York. Bill was killed in the line of duty during a domestic disturbance call, just after the USPCA Nationals were held in Newburg, New York.

 

 

 

 

PATROL CASE OF THE YEAR:    

This award recognizes outstanding work done by K-9 teams in everyday encounters with the real world. This award is presented to the team that has been selected as having performed exceptionally under difficult circumstances and with exceptional ability in law enforcement utilizing a police service dog. The award is selected by the USPCA National Vice-presidents for the best patrol case for each quarter. The winners of the quarterly awards then compete for the Case of the Year Award.

DETECTOR CASE OF THE YEAR:  

This award recognizes outstanding work done by K-9 teams in everyday encounters with the real world. This award is presented to the team that has been selected as having performed exceptionally under difficult circumstances and with exceptional ability in law enforcement utilizing a police service dog. The award is selected by the USPCA National Vice-presidents for the best detector case for each quarter. The winners of the quarterly awards then compete for the Case of the Year Award

 TOM LARSEN AWARD: Total Scent Work – Total Possible Score – 180.00 Sponsored by Criminalistics

 

Captain Tom Larsen was the first K-9 handler in the State of Louisiana. Captain Larsen is known as the father of K-9 in Louisiana and served with the Baton Rouge Police Department. The captain believed in the success of a police service dog depended on their scenting ability. The Captain Tom Larsen Award goes to the top combined scores of Article Search and Suspect Search.

 

 

 

 PATRICK CAHILL AWARD: Combined Obedience & Apprehension – Sponsored by Havis

 This award is in honor of Mr. Patrick Cahill. Mr. Cahill, originally from England, started his career with Scotland Yard and was a major force in establishing canine units in the United States, first with Baltimore Police Department, and then the Metropolitan Police in Washington D.C. Mr. Patrick Cahill demanded handler

control of the animals he trained and certified. Mr. Cahill’s demanding training requirements are responsible for many of the values held today in training police service dogs. The Cahill award                                                                                                 is for the combined top Obedience score and the top Criminal                                                                                                       Apprehension score. The total possible score of 460.

 

 TOP DOG Championship Award Championship Ring – sponsored by PSD K9 and Laz Cabrera 

This award is presented to the “K-9 TEAM” that has shown attention to detail, passion, unmatched dedication, and extreme knowledge in all five (5) phases of the police certification. In addition, this recipient has shown the mental strength to put together all of the above qualities in order to come out on top when it matters the most, at the national police dog trials. Finally, this national championship ring is a symbol of what it takes to be a “Top Dog!”

 

TOP REGION TEAM: John P. “Sonny” Burke Memorial Award – Top Region Team – Sponsored by American Aluminum

 

This Memorial Award is presented each year to the First Place Region Team. The top possible team Score is 2800 points, consisting of four K-9 teams and an alternate. The United States Police Canine Association honors the memory and spirit of Atlantic City Police Canine Officer John P. “Sonny” Burke, who was killed in the line of duty on September 30, 1970.

 

 

 

 

 

TOP DEPARTMENT TEAM: Tim Jones Memorial Award – Sponsored by HITS Training and Consulting.



Officer Tim Jones and his K-9, Laser, all were murdered on August 26, 1994. The Tim Jones Memorial Award is an effort to preserve the memory of not only these brave officers, but also the K-9s who work the streets to make them safer. This Memorial Award is presented each year to the First Place Department Team. The top possible score is 2800 points and consists of four K-9 teams and an alternate. Officer Tim Jones and Laser were members of the Saint Paul, MN, Police Department. In one tragic incident, the Saint Paul, Minnesota, Police Department lost two officers and a canine. Officer Ron Ryan, Jr., and 

 

 

USPCA Russ Hess Lifetime Achievement Award – This award is sponsored by Criminalistics, Inc

The USPCA Russ Hess Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded to “individual(s) who, during their lifetimes, have made significant and selfless contributions to the field of K9.”  The award is designed to be presented once a year at the National Detector Dog Trials. It is not designed or intended to be given to business sponsors but to an individual(s) and not necessarily a USPCA member.  Any USPCA member or Region can submit nominees to the awards committee for consideration. All nominations must be received 60 days prior to the National Detector Dog Trials. The award recipient(s) will be selected by the USPCA Awards Committee.

 

Russ Hess and his beloved wife, Joanie

 

The Monza Award sponsored by American Aluminum.

History of the USPCA would not be complete without Mr. Donald Bartel and K9 Monza. Don has been with the USPCA from the very beginning. Don was appointed an officer with the Metropolitan D.C. Police on October 7, 1953. Don was assigned to K9 on October 7, 1961 and served as a K9 Handler until 1969 when he was assigned to the training staff. Don began his career with the Smithsonian in 1975.

The Monza Award is presented to the handler of a K9 killed in the line of duty. Named after Mr. Don Bartel’s first Police K9 ‘Monza’ of the Metropolitan D.C Police. While working the morning of October 7, 1969 at about 0300hrs. the team responded to a burglary complaint, apprehending five (5) burglars. The stress of this arrest sickened K9 Monza to the point that Monza needed medical care. The dog was rushed to the department veterinarian but could not be saved. The Monza Award was established in 1969.

 The image is of Officer Bartel and K9 Monza.

 

The Art Rescigno Memorial Valor Award -  Sponsored by AceK9                                                                   
This award is presented to a K-9 Handler, K-9, or Team that has been seriously injured in the line of duty while conducting a K-9 deployment.  The handler or K9 demonstrated the highest degree of strength in mind and spirit,  providing the fortitude ot face extreme and eminent danger when placed in harms way.  This award recognizes superior dedication to duty,  laudable personal bravery and selfless elevation of public protection of personal and or k-9 Safety.      This award is in honor of Mr. Art Rescigno,  long time Region 7 member and Life Member of the USPCA.