Bailey comments on duo's achievement

I think it is amazing when you think about how far you two have come.”

Mayor Bailey

The Cottage Grove City Council met in the St. Croix Room at City Hall for its regular bimonthly meeting Wednesday, Oct. 16, taking time to recognize Officer Matt Sorgaard and K9 Partner Odin for their performance at the 2024 USPCA National Field Trials in Baton Rouge earlier this month, ruining the Terrance Patrick Cahill Award, a prestigious traveling trophy named for a Baltimore police officer who started his career at Scotland Yard. The top possible score is 460.
Sergeant Nils Torning of Cottage Grove presented Monday.
“This evening I’m here to discuss the recent accolades of Officer Matt Sorgaard and his K9 partner Odin,” Torning said. “Officer Sorgaard was paired with K9 Odin at the beginning of last year. During that time he trained with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and they got him up to speed to be a patrol dog. This past June he attend his first regional trial. We certify with the United States Police Canine Association, which is one of the hardest certifying boards in the country for police canines.
At a regional trial he did fantastic. He obtained a fifth place overall finished and the top rookie dog team award. That’s for the top new dog, new handler competition. He also obtained a nationals qualifying score.”
“At that point Officer Sorgaard expressed interest in wanting to go to the national competition, held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and it started in October, and the Public Safety Board was able to assist us in funding so he could make the trip down there to compete,” Torning said.
With 67 K9 teams at Baton Rouge, certification consisted of obedience, article search (evidence), box search (human odor detection), and apprehension.
Officer Sorgaard and K9 Odin received the highest combined score for obedience and apprehension meriting the Terrance Patrick Cahill Award. The team also took first place as the top canine team for apprehension and second place for overall canine team at the event.
First place for overall canine team at the USPCA National Field Trials in Baton Rouge went to Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Yetter and his K9 partner Huck.
“Which happened to be his trainer when he attended training last year,” Torning said.
Torning thanked the Cottage Grove Public Safety Board for their help in making attendance at the Baton Rouge competition possible, with Mayor Bailey commenting on the duo’s achievement.
“I think it is amazing when you think about how far you two have come,” Bailey said in recounting the journey Officer Sorgaard and K9 Odin had been on, thanking the Public Safety Board for its help in making the achievement possible.