HOLD THE LINE K9 CONFERENCE HOLD THE LINE K9 CONFERENCE HOLD THE LINE K9 CONFERENCE
INSTRUCTORS
2022 instructors
Ricky Farley - Alabama Canine
Ricky Farley has owned and operated the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Center since 1992. He has had the privilege of training police service canines for over 28 foreign countries as well as over 1700 police departments inside the United States.
Over his 25 year career Mr. Farley has trained canines in areas of narcotics, explosives, accelerant and cadaver detection as well as apprehension.
He has made numerous television appearances on issues pertaining to police service canines, assisted both large and small departments in writing their canine policies and procedures, given civil liability lectures along with search and seizure law updates and lectured over 2500 individuals in the area of canine bite prevention.
Mr. Farley has been involved with the University of Alabama, assisting in cadaver dog research and security involving athletic events. He has testified as an expert witness in several court cases.
Ricky is the only civilian to teach classes at the MVCI (motor vehicle criminal interdiction). In addition to MVCI he has taught classes for HIDTA (high intensity drug trafficking area) program.
Howard Young - White Beard K9 Inc. *
Howard is a civilian police K9 trainer located in Shelby NC. From a young age, he had a passion for working dogs, along with a hunger to learn. This passion put him on a path to assist with training police and protection dogs with an acquaintance at a neighboring county Sheriff’s Office. Also on that path was an opportunity to become familiar with the sport dog world. As his knowledge, experience and love of working dogs grew, that path eventually led him to his local police department in Shelby NC. He was offered a job to be a civilian police K9 trainer and for over 25 years, he has been employed to oversee the procurement, development and training of the Shelby Police Department’s K9 teams. He has since contracted with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office to oversee the training there, as well. Howard has developed
many successful K9 teams over the years, and has been rewarded by their successes in the service of the community. In 2018, he and his wife created a private business under the name of White Beard K9, Inc. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and experiences, hoping to impassion and broaden the skills of others to be successful in the world of working dogs.
Todd Wilber Precision Explosives
Todd is a former special operations (tier 1) bomb technician and explosive materials expert. He has identified/disposed of/decommissioned several thousand bombs (IED to nuclear). He has done additional work with several USG agencies as a subject matter expert, project manager and operations. Todd is an adjunct professor at New Mexico State University where he lectures and instructs on explosive identification, detonation and disposal. Mr. Wilber if the founder and President of Precision Explosives, LLC.
Daniel Gumm
Daniel Gumm has been a police officer with the Wichita Police Department since 2004. He was selected for the department’s K9 unit in 2009 and became a certified instructor in 2011. Officer Gumm also became a certified SWAT dog instructor in 2019 and is an adjunct instructor for the Utah POST canine program. Officer Gumm has instructed multiple K9 basic courses and provides weekly training for the south-central Kansas region. Gumm is currently assigned to the department’s Patrol South Bureau.
Gumm has handled one drug detection/handler protection dog and 2 patrol dogs in his 11 years as a K9 handler. In 2017 Officer Gumm was involved in a shooting incident that left the suspect and K9 Rooster dead.
Paul Shaughnessy - Excel K9 Services
• President and Master Trainer at Excel K9 Services Inc. established in 2001. Excel K9
Services Inc. provides police service dogs to public and private agencies and organizations. Excel K9 also provides Explosive Detection Teams to stadiums, arenas, marathons, cooperate events, amusement parks around the country. We also provide Narcotics / Firearms Detection Teams at drug treatment facilities, schools and private businesses. Excel K9 Services Inc. currently has 6 full time and 21 part-time employees.
• NAPWDA Master Trainer in the areas, Utility, Narcotics and Explosives Detection
• OPOTC Canine Evaluator
• Guest instructor on Police Service Dogs and Training Technics / Practices at seminars
across the country to include guest instructor in four different countries.
• Retired Sergeant from the CMHA Police Department (Cleveland, Ohio)
• Attended S.K.I.D.D.S (SWAT and K9 Officer Working Together)
• Graduate of Police Executive Administrative Leadership School
• Graduate of SWAT Operators School and served as supervisor of full time team
• Expert Witness in Court on Police Service Dog Training and Tactics related to detection and
Use of Force.
• Valor Award Recipient
Justin Rigney - K9 Services Unlimited *
Justin has over 25 years of professional dog training experience and was a Law Enforcement Officer for 17 years. He spent 10 years as a K-9 handler and trainer. His unique background and experience in civilian dog training and as Police service dog training sets him apart from other trainers in his field.
Justin’s passion for dog training is evident. He has assisted thousands of pet dog owners in enhancing their relationship with their dogs, bridging the gap of communication with their beloved four legged family members. Justin utilizes a proven, reliable, humane and clear, real world training system, which produces results and a dog who knows its job and loves its job. During his Law Enforcement career, Justin was fortunate enough to have been able to work three patrol dogs. Justin is a former member of the Davie Police Department and their K‐9 unit where he was a handler for K‐9 “Vader”, a Belgian Malinois who was produced from his own breeding program.
Going from watching Vader take his very first breath in life, to becoming a productive K-9 partner was extremely rewarding. K-9 “Bosko”, an all black GSD (German Shepherd Dog) was responsible for hundreds of arrests and apprehensions of violent felony offenders and has been instrumental in the recovery of numerous articles of valuable evidence. Post retirement, Bosko obtained his Brevet in French Ring sport. His last patrol dog K‐9 "Zeke" is a sable GSD who has been raised from a puppy by Justin and his wife Alison. Zeke was a proven, vigilant and tenacious police service dog during his career. Most notably defending his handler during a deadly force encounter and officer involved shooting. Zeke will continue to work and compete in civilian dog sport.
Justin was a Corporal and trainer for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, which had 60 dogs department wide. During his professional dog training career he has trained with hundreds of Police K‐9 teams, competed in Schutzhund, Ring Sport and other dog sports. He has also trained dogs for celebrities, professional athletes and thousands of pet dog owners. Justin graduated and has been awarded a diploma in the NePoPo Gold training system, the modern language of dog training by Bart Bellon.
𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐳 - 𝐂𝐑𝐊𝟗
Carlos moved to the United States from his native land of Puerto Rico in 2004 after receiving an athletic scholarship to The Ohio State University. Looking to follow a career in the canine behavior/canine training field, he attended the Tom Rose School and graduated with his Master Dog Trainer certification.
After graduating, Carlos worked with several of the leaders in the canine industry. He served as the director of canine operations for a private contractor where he gained experience managing military and government contracts such as TSA, Border Patrol, NSA, Department of Defense, etc.
Currently Carlos is the founder and training director at CRK9 out of Ocala, Fl and a operating partner at Triple Threat Canine.
E𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐛𝐫𝐨 𝘤𝘰-𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘛𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Eric Stanbro is the owner and head trainer at VanEss K9 Academy @vanessk9. He is also cohost of the popular podcast @working_dog_radio. Eric is a 27 year veteran of law enforcement and has been handling, training, and selling police K9’s since 2005. Eric specializes in scenario based training, training your dog to operate at the highest levels possible.
𝐓𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝘤𝘰-𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘳𝘰
Ted has been involved in Police Working K9's for over a decade. His specialties are grip work and development, patrol and utility work and proper decoy work, detection training and K9 policy and case law. Ted acts as the training director for our PSA club and is a certified trial decoy. Ted teaches decoy, handler schools and our SWAT/SORT integration seminars for @torchlightk9 as well as our decoy camp for police service trainers and handlers and does numerous camps for military special operations. Currently, Torchlight K9 is the only private company in Oklahoma with CLEET Accredited courses in K9. Ted is also one of the co-hosts on working dog radio and Co-own's HRD Police K9; a scenario based training company for police K9 handlers.
Robin Greubel *
Robin has been involved in detection work since 2001, beginning in wilderness and human remains detection (HRD),which expanded into disaster work. She trains and deploys with Nebraska Task Force 1 and Iowa Task Force 1 and responds at the request of local law enforcement to aid in searches. She is also certified explosives and narcotics detection dog handler.
She has trained and certified five different breeds to the FEMA certification standard over the past 13 years, is a FEMA evaluator and instructor and has been certifying and coaching canine teams in multiple disciplines since 2007. She is a certifying official with several national search and rescue organizations, and serves as the K9 Branch Manager of the Alliance of Emergency Response Instructors and Examiners. She also sits on the American Academy of Forensics Sciences Dogs and Sensors Committee as a Subject Matter Expert (formerly SWGDOG).
Robin is the CEO of the K9Sensus Foundation and dedicated to coaching the human end of the leash.
Doug Wannemacher
Doug Wannemacher retired after 21 years as a full-time trainer for Greenville County Sheriff’s Office in November 2020 where he oversaw 23 canine teams. He now totals more than 20,000 training hours and has trained 150+ teams in various disciplines. Doug is an accredited Master Trainer for NAPWDA in Utility and Narcotic Detection. He holds certifications from the SC Criminal Justice Academy and is the author and instructor of “Tactical K-9 Deployment In-Service Training” and “Basic K-9 First Aid.” He is the Training Coordinator for Astro Working Dogs, located in Greenville, SC.
Scott Clark - High Drive K-9
Scott Clark, Owner and Founder of High Drive K-9, has been a Police Officer for the City of Coral Springs Police Department, Broward County, Florida since January 1999. Since 2001, he has been assigned to the K-9 Unit where he currently serves as an active K-9 Handler & Head Trainer. He has been working and training patrol and detection dogs since 2002. He is a current certified State of Florida FDLE K-9 Team Instructor and FDLE K-9 Team Evaluator.
In addition, Scott is the K-9 Unit Head Trainer, Multi-Jurisdictional K-9 Head Trainer, SWAT K-9 Team Leader, Trainer and SWAT K-9. Scott has a vast knowledge in Canine Behavior, Decoy Development, Bite Building, K-9 Tactics, K-9/SWAT Tactics and has countless K-9 & SWAT Deployments.
Jim O’Brien - NC K9 LLC
Jim is the owner of NC K9 LLC in Four Oaks NC. Jim has been handling and training police canines since 2005. Jim served as a police officer in New Hampshire for 15 years and handled two police canines during that time. Since moving to North Carolina in 2014, Jim has trained police canine handlers and military canine handlers from all over the United States and several foreign countries. ⠀
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NC K9 LLC specializes in providing trained police canines and handlers courses to Law Enforcement. Jim also conducts decoy, tracking, detection, and problem solving seminars to enhance your canine unit.
Dave Wynne
Dave Wynne is currently the Head Trainer and Director of Law Enforcement Operations at Cedar Creek Kennels LLC
Prior to taking up this position, Dave Wynne had 22 years Law Enforcement experience in Australia with over half of that in K9. During his career, Dave has completed his basic course, which was 4 months in length, 2 re-team training courses, several narcotics training courses, bite development courses, tactical dog course and urban search and rescue courses. Back in Australia, tracking was the main focus in Police k9 handling and as a result Dave Wynne had over 400 tracking apprehensions whilst working his numerous dogs.
In 2010, Dave first started travelling to the United States to train with numerous Police Departments and National Government Agencies across the United States. Dave has delivered numerous operational based training packages specializing in tracking in urban/residential environments.
Cameron FORD
Cameron has been in K9 for 27 years. He first worked as a Military Working Dog Handler in the US Air Force (Stationed in Germany). During his time in Germany he was a Graduate of the German Police Dog Handler School as well as attended training with Dutch Police Dog School in Nunspeet.
Cameron was later a Police Officer in FL worked as K9 Unit trainer as well as a SWAT team member. Then in TX as K-9 Unit Trainer and handler, and SWAT K9 Handler.
From 2010 to 2014 worked as a Government Contractor K9 Program Mgr. overseeing training for large K9 contracts in the middle east.
2014 to 2018 Navy SEAL SR. K9 Instructor (SEAL teams 1,3,5 and 7)
Member of Duke University Canine Cognition Research Team
Researcher at Texas Tech University Canine Olfaction Laboratory
2019 to 2020 Training Director for Silver State K9 LLc
Currently Owner of Ford K9 LLc and also Host for “K9s Talking Scents” Podcast and Webinars
AAFS (American Association of Forensic Science) Board member for the Dogs and Sensor committee, currently establishing a national K9 standard. K9 Evaluator and Certifying official for California POST, California Narcotics Canine Assoc. (CNCA) and National Police Canine Association (NPCA) for Detection and Patrol K9’s
NACSW K9 Nose Work Judge
Brad Smith retired from the West Covina Police Department in southern California after 30 years of service. Brad was a handler and trainer for West Covina for 25 years and a SWAT dog handler for 18 years.
Since 1999 Brad has been National K9 Chairman for N.T.O.A. and specializes in field tactics and officer safety.
Brad is a graduate of the California P.O.S.T. Master Instructor Development Program (Class 5) where he designed and implemented a K9 SWAT & K9 Patrol Tactical School called S.K.I.D.D.S. and CATS www.K9TacOps.com.
Brad is the owner of Canine Tactical Operations and Consulting and provides expert K9 witness testimony in civil litigation. Brad also does K9 unit readiness evaluations.
Brad is also the author of two book titled: “K9 Tactical Operations for Patrol and SWAT” and Co-author of “K9’s in the Courtroom.” Brad has published over 130 articles for a wide variety of publications on K9 Swat Deployment and training. Brad can be reached at Topdogwck1@aol.com or 626-523-4028.
James Ljunggren
Jim is a 31-year police veteran canine handler/trainer who has been involved in the blasting industry since the 1980s. He works in the Science and Technology Field and is involved in explosives research. He has worked throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Ljunggren was an Explosives Odor Detection canine handler and deployed at the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013. He is the Homemade Explosives and Post Blast instructor for the Massachusetts Department and Fire Services Training Program.
JC Richardson - Delmarva K9
JC Richardson started a career as a Deputy Sheriff for Wicomico Co Sheriff’s Office in Maryland in 1998. Shortly after he was given a chance to enter the K-9 unit. Since 1999 to present he has worked 4 dual purpose patrol/ Narcotic dogs. In 2007, JC became a master trainer and took over the training duties for the 8 K-9 Teams for the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office K-9 unit. Since 2007 JC has expanded the monthly maintenance training to approx. 30 K-9 Teams from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. In 2015, JC started Delmarva K-9 LLC to provide police K-9’s to departments throughout the country. Delmarva K-9 currently has dogs working in many local departments. JC has been qualified as an expert in Maryland and Federal Courts systems. ⠀
𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝗱𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆
Mrs. Jenna Gadberry is a contract Scientist at the US Army Futures Command’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM-CBC) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Mrs. Gadberry earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of California at Davis in 2003 and enjoyed a 12 year career at the DoD’s Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) where she was a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and program coordinator for two Technical Support Working Groups (TSWGs). Since 2016, Mrs. Gadberry has been part of the Olfactory Sciences Team, working on enhancing canine detection capabilities. She now manages a diverse portfolio of active Military Working Dog projects (everything from olfaction to wearables and decon solutions), specializing in the spiral development process of getting applied research and development solutions into end-user’s hands.
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻
Michele Maughan, Ph.D., is a research scientist and program manager for Excet, Inc. a US Defense Department science and engineering contract firm. Michele works at the US Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Chemical Biological Center (CBC) in the Olfactory Sciences group at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In this role, Dr. Maughan, provides subject matter expertise on canine scent detection and training aids, explosive and other emerging CBRNE threats, sensor technologies, and research, development, test and evaluation of Military Working Dog and Homeland Security canines. In addition to being a scientist, Michele is also a certified explosives detection dog (EDD) handler, currently working on developing her second EDD from puppy to operational canine for R&D projects.
Todd Mona East Hartford K9 Unit
Trainer/Capital Region Canine
-Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Trainer since 2014
-CPWDA Vice President (newly elected 2020)
-Officer since 2002...2006 to present in K9. Two time K9 handler, patrol/firearm detection
Todd also instructs K9 patrol classes through hid agency (East Hartford PD/Capital Region Canine) and currently host in service trainings for approximately 25 K9 teams in Connecticut on a regular basis while preparing for NAPWDA trainer.
Michael McHenry
-Owner & Lead Trainer F.M. K9 LLC
-Over 25 years in the canine field and industry
-US Army Combat-Veteran - 8 years BSA
-Criminal Justice Master Degree Psychology
-Master Trainer with NAPWDA in Utility, Narcotics, Explosives
-11 years on SWAT - 3 1/2 years as SWAT Commander - worked canine with SWAT team over 20 years in law enforcement - retired
-10 years as a shift commander / supervisor in Law Enforcement 18 1/2 years as a canine handler
-18 years supervisor experience of canine unit
-DRE / SFST Instructor Defensive Tactics
Instructor Expert witness in canine state, local & federal court's
Over twenty years experience training canine for explosive detection, narcotics detection, patrol-utility work, SAR, Cadaver, for local, state, federal and military
-Instruct Decoy Basic skills for over fifteen years
-Member of NAPWDA since 1996
Sponsor of this years Beer for BlueLine K9 Training Conference
Mike Garber
Ptl. Michael Garber, K9 Handler City of Salem Ohio, 18 year LE veteran, 6 years in K9. Managed fundraising for a 2 dog program purchasing all equipment, vehicles, and dogs through fundraising (As a team with our community Raising over $260K in donations, merchandise
sales, and grants starting and sustaining the K9 program).
- K9 Trainer, earned a trainer certificate through Vaness K9
- State evaluator for Ohio K9’s
- Member of PK9A since 2017
- Ridgeside K9 Ohio
- 12 year military veteran
Michael Kmiecik, Sheepdog Guardian Consulting, LLC
Mike is a current 26-year law enforcement veteran and 17-year veteran police service and working dog handler in the Chicago Metropolitan area. He has handled multiple dogs specialized in patrol, narcotic-contraband detection and human remains detection. Mike is currently a K-9 Team Sergeant for a multi-jurisdictional mobile field force, serving the Chicagoland area. He has more than 8,000-hours of training in law enforcement and police service dog operations.
Mike is the recipient of numerous awards from the Bartlett (Illinois) Police Department, the Cook County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois D.A.R.E. Officer's Association.
Mike is the lead instructor for Sheepdog Guardian Consulting and maintains the most comprehensive canine legal website, “Canine Legal Updates and Opinions” and contributed to multiple magazines, and podcasts. He has taught and written about police service and working dog operations, industry standards and legal updates for over 10-years and studied under Terry Fleck, Ed.D.. Mike is a committee member with the Illinois Tactical Officer’s Association K9 Committee (Subgroup: Patrol K9) and former member with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Working Group Canine Compliance.
PAUL FEDYNIAK
Paul Fedyniak is a veterinarian in Chicago. Paul started the non-profit, MEDIK9USA NFP INC in 2018 to increase the availability of medical training resources and supplies for working canines.
EVAN NOLTE
Evan Nolte was a staff sergeant in the United States Army providing direct medical support to the SOFMPC program for the majority of his 14-year career.
John Howard & Dave Dourson - Kinetic Performance Dog Food
Dave Dourson is the Co-Owner and Co-Founder of Kinetic Performance Dog Food. Dave has 30 years of experience in various blue-water business ventures that focused on filling a “need” that, many times, in the corporate world, were overlooked by CFO’s that focused on profit over quality. Dave and his partner, John Howard, met while working for a large, mid-west based, pet food company in 2009. With a desire to focus on animal health over profitability, the two left corporate America and started their own company in 2011. The pair spend countless hours working with various kennels across the United States on K9 nutrition and conducting nutritional seminars. Dave has conducted seminars for various divisions of the DoD, Homeland Security, USSS, Military Divisions and numerous State and Local PDs.
Marty Mahon - Trident K9 Consulting
Marty Mahon is a police sergeant with the South San Francisco Police Department, located in Northern California. He has been a canine handler for 18 years and is currently the head trainer of the canine unit, which consists of 7 dual-purpose canine teams. Marty and his canine are assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration, San Francisco Field Division, where he is responsible for drug interdiction and investigations of drug trafficking organizations. Marty specializes in drug trafficking, canine detection, canine unit supervision and the use of canines at the Federal level. Marty is a canine evaluator for the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), and the California Narcotics Canine Association (CNCA). Marty also trains canine teams in Northern California in patrol and detection. Marty is the owner and head trainer for Trident K9 Consulting, where him and his team train law enforcement K9 Teams in Northern, California.
𝗔𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿
Aaron served six years in the Marines serving in both the Infantry and Diplomatic Security with 4 years of overseas deployment time. Aaron was rated with 100% disability due to his service-related injuries while overseas. To this day Aaron goes out of his way to employ veterans and police officers in all aspects of business with many employees being 100% disabled rated veterans. After the Marines Aaron was hired by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office where he worked in patrol, full-time narcotics, full-time SWAT, and full-time K9. Aaron started Ridgeside K9 in 2015 as a hobby. In 2016 Ridgeside K9 became and official dog training business. The goal of Ridgeside K9 was simply helping family and friends with their house pets on off days as Aaron was still working full-time as a K9 police officer. By 2018 Ridgeside K9 had exploded in the DC Metro area and bypassed all measured goals. Aaron retired in 2018 from the Loudoun County Sheriff's office with 6 years in the Marines and 15 years as a deputy. Prior to retirement Aaron went back to college and finished his education at The George Washington University majoring in Police Science and Homeland Security.
𝗕𝗼𝗯 𝗘𝗱𝗲𝗻
Bob Eden is a retired 28-year police veteran with over 40 years of dog training experience and 16 years as a police dog handler. He retired with his last assignment being with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia working international organized crime projects. He is the author of three books, "Dog Training For Law Enforcement", "K9 Officers Manual" and “K9 Supervisors Manual”. In 1988 he was appointed to the B.C. Police Commission's committee to create minimum police dog training standards for law enforcement agencies in the province of British Columbia. In 1989 he was selected by the World Police & Fire Games Committee of California to coordinate the competition site for the World Police & Fire Games Police Dog Championships, held in Vancouver, BC. In 1991 he created and developed the International Police K9 Conference which operated for 20 years and provided training for over 3500 dog teams. In that same year, he developed the first K9 records management system know as the K9 Activity Tracking System (KATS Platinum) designed to protect officers and agencies from liability and provide supportive documentation for court cases.
Scott Lockerman
Scott Lockerman is a CPL with the Kent County Sheriff's Office in Maryland, where he has served for almost seven years. He has been a k9 handler for the last four years, partnered with a single purpose yellow Labrador, K9 Loki. Scott's passion is K9, but within that passion is a desire to demonstrate and teach team leadership skills and self-discipline principles.
Scott is also the president and founder member of the Maryland Police K9 Foundation, a non profit that seeks to take care of and equip active K9s and their handlers, as well as meet the needs of retired K9s across their state.