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