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Galloway, N.J. — For the second consecutive year, police K-9 units from all over New Jersey gathered at ��������app on March 12 to obtain certification in explosives detection.

Stockton Police Chief Tracy Stuart completed the certification with her K-9 partner Freya. Officers from the Bayonne Police Department and the Morris, Passaic and Monmouth County Sheriff’s Offices also participated in the event, which was hosted by Region 15 of the United States Police Canine Association.

“It’s tremendous that the university is able to host an event like this,” Stuart said. “Stockton’s administration has been incredibly supportive, not just of the association, but of our canine unit. They recognize the fact that this is a vital part of the safety and security of the community.”

Each team completed four separate tests to identify explosive odors in a designated time limit:

• A pass/fail odor recognition test where the K-9 examined 18 cans, six of which had explosive odors.
• A test where 15 packages were placed against a wall and two of them had explosive odors.
• A three-room search where two of the rooms had explosive material hidden. The team must identify which rooms have explosive material and where specifically in those rooms the material is hidden.
• An outside vehicle test where two were tagged with explosive material.

Judges scored each team on determining where the K-9 finds the material, how quickly the dog worked, what the dog’s response was to the material, how easily the handler recognized the dog’s reaction, the leash skills of the officer and the overall teamwork of the handler and the dog.

“It’s not an easy thing,” said Thomas Conroy, the Region 15 executive director. “Only the most committed come out for this kind of stuff.”

Those who become certified are eligible to compete in the 2025 National Detector Dog Certification Trials from June 1-4 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stuart has won national detection dog titles in 2022 with Freya and in 2018 and 2019 with her previous K-9 partner, Hemi.

“The national championships are very difficult. Not many teams go each year,” Conroy said. “It’s a lot. It’s a lot on your department. A lot on your family. A lot of training, so for people to do that they have to be really committed. You’ve got to train really hard. You are going against the best in the country.”

Stuart said she “would love to go” to this year’s competition with Freya, but she hasn’t completely decided, yet.

“I think competing at that next level is great for us to test our skills under that stress of competition,” she said. “In my new role with the department, I’m even more busy that I used to be. But when you have a passion for something, you’d be surprised what you can make time for. I’m going to leave it to fate.”

— Story and photos by Mark Melhorn