By Danny Federico Riverbend News
On Thursday, June 24, the Mayo Correctional Institution (C.I.) K-9 team was announced the winner of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) Region II K-9 Competition.
The competition was held from Tuesday, June 22, through Thursday, June 24 and consisted of day and night tracks, each equal to one and a half miles, in the Citrus Wildlife Management Area in Citrus County. A total of 10 K-9 teams competed, including Hamilton C.I., Suwannee C.I. and Mayo C.I.
“Correctional Institutions across FDOC's Region II competed in a rigorous competition,” the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office posted on their Facebook page. “All the teams participating pushed themselves to the limits and endured the elements.”
Following their three days of hard work, Mayo C.I.'s K-9 team was announced as the first place winner of the competition. The team consisted of Sgt. Matt Tompkins, Officer Andy Lamb, Officer Mike Schreck, Officer Bill Barger and K-9 Rio, who has been with Mayo C.I. for four and a half years.
“We'll be going on to a bigger competition in September,” said Sgt. Tompkins. The competition will take place around the Alabama-Florida line and will be hosted by Escambia County, Fla.