The noses that keep celebrity golf safe

STATELINE, Nev. – While the celebrities were in the spotlight, six noses and 24 paws worked diligently behind the scenes at the American Century Championship to keep everyone safe during the golf tournament that took place July 8-12 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.

Whether it was checking golf bags or supply boxes, six explosive detection dogs conducted thorough sweeps of the event grounds each day in the early hours ahead of player and spectator arrival.

“No explosives were found during the event,” said Michelle Turner, Public Information Officer with Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District. “However, all of the K9s loved being outdoors with all the animal smells.”

Due to the high-profile event and the amount of crowds the tournament draws (this year, a record 86,038 spectators), these K9s were recruited from numerous agencies across the region.

This year’s team included:

• Honey from the Nevada State Police
• Tracker from the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District
• Maggie from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office
• Bak from the Reno Police Department
• Saza from the University of Nevada, Reno Police Services
• Dug from the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority

Tracker is the local Tahoe explosive detection dog and has been a part of the Tahoe Douglas Bomb Squad for five years. Tracker is also part of the larger Northern Nevada Explosive Detection K9 group that helps with event sweeps throughout the Reno-Tahoe area.

On Tracker’s resume are hundreds of pre-event sweeps, including political events, dignity sweeps, presidential sweeps and call-outs. 

Tracker and other Nevada POST-certified K9s are certified annually on a minimum of 12 explosive odors.