Below is a summary of credentials
Our K9 Partners Have Also Been Tested and Certified Through the Following:
NAPWDA
NNDDA
NASAR
IPWDA
SUSAR
GBRT
AKC
SWGDOG
We also utilize the Purina Body Condition System to ensure
our K9 partners are in top working condition
Below are the credentials for Lead K9 Handler and Master Trainer - Trace Sargent. Additional personnel
qualifications are available upon request.
Degrees
Masters of Science in Public Health
Bachelors of Science in General Studies
Associates of Science in Law
Licenses/Certifications
Secret Security Clearance Level (Final)
Certified Law Enforcement Officer
Forensic Sketch Artist Certification
World Protective Services Certified
Glock 40 and M4 Weapons Qualified
Current U.S. Passport
POST Certified Instructor
NIMS Certified Instructor (100, 200, 300 and 400 levels)
Certified Canine Search Specialist
Master Trainer and Evaluator (Basic to Advanced Levels)
Search and Rescue Trainer, Evaluator and Instructor (Basic to Advanced Levels)
Animal Care Specialist
Incident Command System Instructor
Licensed Firefighter
Licensed Emergency Medical Technician
Certified Structural Collapse Technician
Certified Emergency Program Manager
Certified Mantracker
HAM Radio Operator
Over 300 Other Certifications – Public Safety and K9 Training
K9 Experience (Past and Present)
Over 28 years of experience with high threat missions, law enforcement, K9 operations and SAR events
Over 12 years of Homeland Security experience as a trainer and conducting operational missions
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children – Approved K9 Resource
Handler for explosives detection dogs (bomb dogs) for international missions
Handler, trainer and evaluator for tracking/trailing, air scent, cadaver and disaster dog teams for
local, state and international teams – SWAT, LE, Fire Dept., SAR, Task Forces, etc.
Evaluator for American Kennel Club “Canine Good Citizen”
POST Certified Master Trainer and Evaluator for the Virginia Police K9 Association
Member of the State Urban Search and Rescue K9 Sub-committee
Southeastern Representative for the State Urban Search and Rescue K9 Sub-committee
Search Team Manager for State of Georgia Search, Rescue, Recovery K9 Teams
Member of State (Georgia) and Federal (DMORT) Level Task Forces
Regional representative for PAWS With a Cause Assistance Service Dogs
Trainer and Evaluator for Georgia Body Recovery Team K9 Unit
K9 Team Leader for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Body Recovery Team
K9 Program Director for the State of Georgia for HRD and USAR K9 Teams
Search Team Manager for local, state and national level events
K9 team leader for GSAR-Central team during Hurricane Katrina disaster
Tested and evaluated over 600 dog teams
Tested and evaluated first PAWS service dogs in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia
K9 partners licensed and certified at local, state, national and international levels
Type I canine resource in tracking/trailing, area search and HRD, and Type II canine resource for disaster recovery work.
Search Experience
Requested to assist in over 1,200 searches with K9 partners in the United States and international missions.
Assigned as EDD K9 handler with diplomat security protection team involving high threat, international missions
Have searched for and located numerous lost and missing persons (including fugitives, runaways, Alzheimer’s, suicide, homicide, disaster victims, airplane crashes, etc.) and high threat levelmissions (terrorists/bombs)
Have located live persons ranging in the age of 2 1/2 years old to 89 years old
Have located human remains hours old to over 350 years old (Revoluntionary War soliders)
Have been requested in numerous searches from local to international levels.Some high profile cases we have been requested to assist with include: Todd Kohlhepp Serial Killer Case, The Runaway Bride, Eric Rudolph, Hurricane Katrina, Natalie Holloway, Tara Grinstead, Theresa Parker, Lauren Giddings, Sugar Plant Explosion (Savannah, GA), Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tornado, Stand-by for 9/11 Terrorist Attacks, Military Plane Crash (Unadilla, GA)
Awards
Developed and Instructor for Outstanding Innovative Adult Training Program for the State of Georgia
K9 partners inducted into Georgia Animal Hall of Fame
Nominated for Governor’s Public Safety Awards
Golden Rule Award Finalist
Georgia Magazine Pet Hero Award Winner
A-Scene Award Nominee
John Herbert Phillips Award For Promoting and Teaching Kindness and Compassion to Animals
Cherokee County Commendation Award for Citizen’s Merit Award for Excellence
Living Your Legacy Award Winner
Outstanding Spotlight Achiever Award Winner
First licensed search and rescue dog in the State of Georgia
First cadaver/HRD dog team for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Body Recovery Team
First disaster recovery dog team fully trained, tested and certified for disaster operations in the State of Georgia (over 1,000 hours of training and certification)
Movies / TV / Presentations
The Way Home(True Story Movie - My dog and I played ourselves)
Mister (Movie - My dog and I were lead characters)
Second Chance (An Animal Film - My dogs were lead characters in this film)
The Past Life (TV Series - My dog portrayed as family dog)
It’s All About the Dog(Documentary - Endorsed Dog Show)
Disappeared (Crime Show - My dogs and me participated in this real search and also part of show)
Nancy Grace Show(Talk Show - Subject Matter Expert - Over 50 Guest Appearances)
CNN Headline News (Talk Show - Subject Matter Expert)
In Session (Talk Show - Subject Matter Expert)
The Dog Talk Show (Talk Show - Subject Matter Expert)
World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer
HLN and HLN After Dark
Oxygen Network
ID Discovery
48 Hours: Hard Evidence TV Show
Good Day Atlanta
Associated Press (articles, pictures and videos about me and my dog were sent worldwide)
USA Today
Wall Street Journal
New York Times
LA Times
Southern Living Magazine
Featured in Atlanta Dog Life Magazine
Featured in West Georgia Woman's Magazine
Featured in other numerous newspapers, magazines and radio shows
