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Charleston police officer and K9 get top honors


Charleston Police Officer Cpl. Anthony Gaylor and his canine, Berkley, won the West Virginia Police Canine Association Team of the Year Award for 2017. (WCHS/WVAH)
Charleston Police Officer Cpl. Anthony Gaylor and his canine, Berkley, won the West Virginia Police Canine Association Team of the Year Award for 2017. (WCHS/WVAH)
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A Charleston police officer and his canine won the West Virginia Police Canine Association Team of the Year Award for 2017.

Cpl. Anthony Gaylor and his 6-year-old Dutch Shepherd named Berkley have been working together for five years.

Berkley is a multi-purpose dog meaning she sniffs for narcotics, does patrol work and apprehensions, but what she is really good at is tracking.

Gaylor and Berkley were given the K9 Team of the Year Award last week at a statewide recertification training course in Nicholas County.

The team was chosen out of 130 others.

But Gaylor said this award isn’t just about him and Berkley, it’s about his whole shift.

"I have guys who train with me every day, and these guys know when the dog is needed and how to set up things to make sure that me and Berkley have success,” Gaylor said.

Over the past year, Berkley has had a lot of success tracking and apprehending suspects.

Gaylor said she is especially helpful when there are multiple people who need to be apprehended.

"I think what makes a good team is a good relationship with the dog and knowing how to read your dog and what your dog is trying to tell you,” Gaylor said.

Berkley is very protective of her handler.

Gaylor said she doesn’t like a lot of other people to get around him, but she does like to play ball and interact with some of the other officers.

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