K9 units from the Marshalltown Police Department recently attended the U.S. Police Canine Association’s (Iowa Region) annual Narcotic Dog Certification Trial which was held in Anamosa. Lt. Kiel Stevenson with K9 Raji, left, and Sgt. Tom Watson with K9 Jordy, were among 56 dog teams seeking certification. Teams from around Iowa, including the MPD K9 teams, were tested in their ability to locate illegal narcotics that were hidden on vehicles and in rooms. The illegal narcotics that the dogs were tested on includes marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Both dog teams continue to train on a regular basis with other K9 teams from around Central Iowa, including Des Moines Police, West Des Moines Police, Meskwaki Police and Tama County Sheriff’s Office. The MPD K9s will be tested in patrol skills, which include obedience, agility, evidence recovery, human scent detection and criminal apprehension later this year. The teams are also available for public demonstrations. For more information, contact Sgt. Melinda Ruopp at (641) 754-5725.