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Sarasota News Leader November 22, 2013 Page 79 SARASOTA POLICE K9 TEAM WINS TOP HONORS DURING SEMINAR The Sarasota Police Department K-9 Unit has announced that Officer Sean Gleason and his partner, Hixon, were voted Top K-9 Team for both the Explosives Division and Narcotics Division out of 100 teams from around the country during the 16th Annual Bomb and Drug Detection seminar in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event was put on by Southern Coast K-9, a news release says. Gleason and three other Sarasota Police Department K-9 teams attended the seminar Nov. 1-14. The seminar included classroom instruction, field exercises and certifications for proper handling of K9s, hands-on detection work, K9 first aid classes, and instruction in search patterns, record-keeping and practical scenarios, the release adds. Officers and their K9 partners also attended field training exercises in storage units, warehouses, vehicles, boats, an airport and a hotel, the release notes. Sgt. Mick McHale of the K-9 Unit said in the release, "I'm proud of Officer Gleason's dedication to the program and his contribution as a trainer to the unit. The award is something that is well earned and well deserved." % Officer Sean Gleason and Hixon celebrate their recognition during the 16th Annual Bomb and Drug Detection seminar in Daytona Beach. Contributed photo