GULF SHORES, Ala. --The Gulf Shores Police

Department will host the 2012 Region One United States Police

Canine Association Police Dog Field Trial scheduled to take place

Feb.20 – 24 at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

Local businesses have joined the effort by

donating items and monetary contributions to assist the Gulf Shores

Police Department in hosting this regional event.  Frances

Holk-Jones, local State Farm agent, recently donated Frisbees,

bags, and water bottles for the contestants to Canine Officer

Jeremy Perry and his partner “Vice”, Gulf Shores Police Chief Ed

Delmore, Canine Officer Joe Taylor and his partner “Dakota”, as

pictured below.

“We are so thankful to our local community for

their support in bringing this monumental event to our area,”

Delmore said.

This event will showcase highly trained police

service dogs competing in various skills including obedience,

agility, suspect search, area (evidence) search, and criminal

apprehension with simulated gunfire.

Approximately 100 teams from throughout the

Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina

are registered to compete.  All events are open to the public, with

the largest demonstration scheduled for Feb. 23 from 7- 8:30

p.m. 

 “We encourage the public to attend,” Taylor

said.  “This event will showcase the talents of police dogs – in

fact we (Gulf Shores Police Department) will have four teams

competing.  It’s going to be a fun event for the entire

family.”

The Gulf Shores Sportsplex is located at

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lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">19025 County Road 6 West in Gulf

Shores.  For more information regarding the 2012

Region One United States Police Canine Association Police Dog Field

Trial or for sponsorship opportunities please contact Officer

Coleman or Officer Taylor at 251-968-2431 or

"text-decoration: underline;">jcoleman@gulfshoresal.gov.