Porterville police officers Cody Dean and Gary Miller know how to handle their Belgian malinois.

Having earned seven trophies at the Second Annual South Valley K9 trials earlier this month, they were distinguished as the “Top Team” for accumulating the highest combined score in  such tests as agility, area search and protection. They, along with their sharp-nosed pooches Dodge and Seven, were stacked against tough competition — 22 law enforcement agencies as large as the Fresno and Bakersfield police departments.

“For them to do as well as they did, compared to the larger agencies, it’s very impressive,” Sgt. Brian Nix, who leads the local K9 unit said. “I’m very proud of them.”

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