The Encinal Police Department was among one of the few agencies in the state to receive grant funding for the acquisition of its first ever drug-detecting canine.
Odin, and his handler, Cpl. W. Butterfield, recently returned from a 10-week canine training in Houston.
“They were able to successfully gain their certifications and brought home the most awards,” Police Chief Pedro Balboa III said.
Odin also received top honors as the “Top Dog” for his performance on various courses. His handler received a slew of accolades that included the “K-9 Blue,” which is awarded to the best handler-canine duo at the training.
According to the department, Odin is the first canine to join the department and will serve in both patrol and narcotics detection.
The canine was funded through a K9 officers’ grant program developed to assist law enforcement agencies overcome budget restrictions and costs associated with acquiring police service dogs.
