Tijuana’s Municipal Police K-9 Unit delivered a standout performance at the 27th Annual K-9 Trials, an international competition hosted by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office on November 14–15 at the George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center in Norco, California.
The city’s Department of Municipal Security and Citizen Protection (SSPCM) publicly commended the officers and their dogs for their achievements.
The event brought together 97 K-9 teams for the first phase and 58 for the second, representing police and military units from across California and Baja California. Despite a highly competitive field and challenging weather conditions—including steady rain that added difficulty to each exercise—Tijuana’s teams earned several top placements.
The police service dogs “Brody,” “Ryco,” “Matz,” “Tygo,” and “Willie,” along with their handlers, represented Tijuana in various categories.
- In narcotics detection, the team of “Tygo” and his handler earned 3rd place in Vehicle Narcotics Search and 5th place in Building Narcotics Search.
- In the Patrol Dog category, “Matz” and his handler secured 3rd place in Protection.
- “Willie” and his handler placed 2nd in Agility and 4th in Obedience.
According to the SSPCM, these results are particularly meaningful given the size of the competition and the technical demands of each event. The agency emphasized that the strong performances reflect the unit’s high level of training, discipline, and operational readiness.
Officials also highlighted the importance of the handler–dog bond, consistent professional training, and the role these international events play in strengthening collaboration with other law-enforcement agencies. Competitions of this kind facilitate the exchange of best practices, improve operational techniques, and foster camaraderie among regional and international K-9 units.
The SSPCM reaffirmed its commitment to further developing Tijuana’s K-9 Operations Unit through continued training and investment, with the goal of enhancing public safety across the city.
