A nationally recognized event, K9 Olympics brings together 107 K9 teams from the United States, including Hawaii, as well as Brazil and Korea to compete in a number of patrol and/or detection events. Training seminars and certification trials are also held during the event.

The three Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara (MHA) Nation Drug Enforcement K9 teams placing in competition events at the K9 Olympics are as follows:

– Nate Miller and K9 Broder took first place in the Narcotic Residential event.

– Coby Janis and K9 Metin took second place in the Narcotic Scramble event.

Submitted Photo The Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation Division of Drug Enforcement K9 Teams, recently taking part in the 24th Annual American Working Dogs K9 Olympics at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana, are, from left, Joseph Larvie Jr., Joshua Pastir, Coby Janis, Britney Larvie, Jeff White and Nate Miller.

– Britney Larvie and K9 Riki took third place in the Narcotic Road Clear event.

Josh Pastir and K9 Zorro, and Joe Larvie and K9 Roxo also took part in the competitions.

MHA Drug Enforcement Deputy Chief Jeff White was a judge at the K9 Olympics event, a role he has had for the past four years.

When the Bureau of Indian Affairs Law Enforcement was on Fort Berthold Reservation, White was its first K9 handler. The Three Affiliated Tribes (MHA Nation) assumed law enforcement in 2007 and he and his dog Cindy transferred to Spirit Lake Nation. He retired in August 2014 and was asked to start the MHA Nation Drug Enforcement K9, where he has been since. He handles two dogs – a drug dog and a bomb dog.

The MHA Drug Enforcement has dual- and single-purpose K9s specializing in narcotics detection, tracking, protection, explosives detection and human remains detection. They mainly work on Fort Berthold Reservation but assist other law enforcement agencies when requested.

White said there are five K9 teams and one vacant K9 handler position. The division has nine dogs – two cadaver dogs, two bomb dogs and the rest are drug dogs.

This is the third year MHA Drug Enforcement’s K9 teams have competed at the K9 Olympics. The local team is the only law enforcement agency representing a tribal nation, according to information about the K9 teams.

“My K9 Teams are dedicated to their profession and have a strong commitment to their training and to the communities they serve. It’s that commitment that produces such results,” White said.

White said the MHA Nation K9 teams also have been invited to the 6th Annual K9 Olympics in Goias, Brazil.