Top 20 Contenders of the 2015 Aftermath K9 Contest

North Smithfield, RI K9 Unit.

After a 2007 traffic crash involving a tractor-trailer filled with over 200 kilos of cocaine, the Lower Allen Police Department in Pennsylvania began thinking seriously about adding a K9 Unit to the force. With the aid of the Aftermath K9 Contest, that goal became reality. Officer Rocco has assisted the department with his handler, veteran Officer Scarlato, since March of 2013.

For the last four years, Aftermath Services has sponsored the annual Aftermath K9 Contest as a way to help departments offset the costs of creating and maintaining a K9 Unit. Along the way, we’ve expanded aspects of the contest to encourage community participation and involve additional agencies with existing units.

This year’s contest is already under way and runs until October 31st, so be sure to vote every day for your favorite department! The voting form is located here. To read the full rules and details, visit our rules page.

This Week’s Leaders of the Pack

Since voting opened on October 1st, Aftermath has received hundreds of entries from deparments across the US. Accompanying many of these are great photos of hard working K9s and their human co-workers, including the photo above, sent in by the North Smithfield Police Department in Rhode Island.

This week, we begin the countdown with a recap of the top 20 vote getters. Listed in no particular order, the roll call of top contenders (so far!) includes:

Holliston Police Department (MA) Hanover Park Police Department (IL) Matteson Police Department (IL), Summit Police Department (IL), Longmont Police Department (CO), Wyandotte Police Department (MI), Griffith Police Department (IN), Mundelein Police Department (IL), Halifax County Sheriff Department (VA), Moline Police Department (IL), NC K9 Emergency Response Team (NC), Hudson County Sheriff Department (NJ), Lake County Sheriffs Department (IL), McHenry County Sheriff’s Office (IL), Willmar Police Department (MN), Buffalo Grove Police Department (IL), McCullom Lake Police Dept (IL), South Euclid Police Department (OH), Wilmington Police Department (IL), and Elkhart Police Department (IN).

Don’t see your name on the list? Don’t fret! You still have two weeks to catch up, so keep those votes coming. Looking to step out from the pack and take the lead? Check out our helpful tips on how to improve your chances!

Keep Up-to-Date With the Contest and With Aftermath

In the next few weeks, we will be sharing more of your pictures on social media, including our Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to follow us. Also check out our Friday blog posts to discover more about K9s and view the top competitors each week. We will be calculating the votes at the end of the contest, so also be sure and stay tuned for the big announcement in November.

Aftermath understands that police put their lives on the line every day; from time to time, we sponsor giveaways and contests like our Annual K9 Contest, to recognize their devotion to protecting the communities where we live and work. If you are a member of law enforcement and wish to learn more about our services and programs, check out this webpage for more information. Officers and other law enforcement professionals can also request free promotional material using our Marketing Material Request form.

As always, if you are in need of immediate biohazard cleanup or have questions about our services, please call us anytime 24/7 at 888-872-4339. Assistance is available nationwide.