The Owensboro Police Department is proud to announce the recent accomplishment of one of our K-9 Officers.
Officer Gary Mattingly and his partner, Artus, a 4 year old German shepherd, have been working together since November, 2011. With approximately 16 hours of training each month, this partnership is an effective crime fighting tool. This team was successful at scoring exceptionally well during their annual regional certification through the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) held in Owensboro in August. With a score above 560, Officer Mattingly and Artus were eligible to participate in the national trials, which introduced much stricter standards in all areas.
During the USPCA national trials at Wilson, North Carolina during the week of October 19th through October 24th, Officer Mattingly and Artus competed along with 103 canine teams from across the country. The national trials consisted of demonstrations of proficiency in the areas of agility, obedience, criminal apprehension, and suspect/article searches. The Owensboro Police Department was well represented throughout the week with the team attaining the goal of becoming nationally certified; an accomplishment only awarded to the “top dogs”.
Officer Mattingly attributed much of his success to the Owensboro Police Department administration for their supportive attitude toward training. Preparing for the regional and national certifications has allowed Officer Mattingly and Artus to be very effective with their service to the community.
