Mission-Ready: LCSO K-9 Teams Earn WPSDA Certification

The Laramie County Sheriff's Office's newest K-9 teams are now certified and ready to take a bite out of crime.

The agency on Thursday announced that K-9 Cash and his handler Deputy Sill and K-9 Yapp and his handler Sgt. Atencio earned their Wyoming Police Service Dog Association patrol and narcotics certifications on May 23.

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According to Public Information Officer Brandon Warner, the WPSDA certification is a rigorous evaluation process that ensures police K-9 teams meet high professional standards in both patrol and narcotics detection work.

Dual Certification

"The patrol certification tests obedience, suspect location and detection, and when necessary, apprehension techniques across a wide range of operational environments," Warner said in a release.

"The narcotics certification involves detection work across varied search types — including indoor, outdoor, vehicle, and open area scenarios — with built-in distractions and environmental challenges," he added. "Both LCSO K-9 teams were tested and certified in the detection of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana, and their derivatives."

Warner says prior to certification, both K-9 teams successfully completed a 13-week K-9 academy hosted by the Cheyenne Police Department, where they received intensive training to develop and refine the skills needed for the demanding certification process.

"The (LCSO) extends its sincere thanks to the (CPD) for their crucial partnership and support in training our newest K-9 teams," said Warner. "Their assistance has played a key role in ensuring these teams are mission-ready and fully capable of serving and protecting our community."