Cross City Correctional Leads Florida in Elite K9 Training Event

BROOKSVILLE – A team from Cross City Correctional Institution has earned statewide recognition after capturing first place at the 2025 Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) Statewide K9 Tracking and Training Event, an elite annual competition and professional development program for the agency’s top-performing K9 tracking units.

The event, held in Brooksville, brought together the eight best-performing teams from FDC regional contests across Florida. Designed to enhance readiness, teamwork, and technical precision, the training combines timed field challenges with advanced skill demonstrations that reflect real-world law enforcement scenarios.

“Our K9 tracking teams are an integral part of public safety in Florida and we are greatly appreciative of the support we receive from Governor DeSantis and the incredible sheriffs we partner with to serve the local communities where our teams live and work,” said Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky D. Dixon. “These events are a testament to our dedication to continuous improvement. During every activation our K9 teams respond to, there are lives on the line that depend on us to be at our best.”

FDC Special Teams Coordinator Jonathan “Danny” Rummel said the competition represents not only excellence in performance but also a shared commitment to public safety and professional growth.

“This event brings together the top eight teams from regional competitions across the state, culminating in a showcase of the state's absolute best,” Rummel said. “Each year, these teams compete to see who has trained the hardest and perfected their skills. It's not just about winning; it's about public safety and ensuring that our facilities and communities remain secure. This event highlights the dedication and hard work of our teams, and we are incredibly proud of their accomplishments.”

Cross City’s Excellence Recognized

The Cross City Correctional Institution team, based in Dixie County, achieved top honors in the 2025 statewide event, marking another milestone for the facility’s K9 program. Their victory highlights both the handlers’ professionalism and the K9s’ exceptional capabilities in real-world operations.

FDC’s K9 tracking teams are primarily tasked with pursuing escaped inmates, though such cases have become increasingly rare thanks to improved technology and modern security measures. Today, these teams often serve a broader role in Florida’s law enforcement network — assisting sheriff’s offices and police departments in tracking dangerous fugitives, recovering evidence, and locating missing children or vulnerable adults.

The Cross City team’s performance in Brooksville reflected the results of rigorous preparation and field experience. During the competition, teams faced a combination of day and night tracking courses that simulated complex search operations through rough terrain and variable conditions. Events tested endurance, scent detection, and decision-making under pressure, with additional stations evaluating firearms proficiency and handler conditioning.

Commitment to Continuous Training

The annual FDC K9 event underscores the department’s emphasis on training and interagency collaboration. Teams from across the state benefit from shared best practices and scenario-based exercises that ensure readiness for emergencies.

“This event is about ensuring every team is at its best when called upon,” Dixon said. “Lives depend on it, and our teams take that responsibility seriously.”

In addition to Cross City’s first-place finish, the 2025 competition recognized:

• Second place: Mayo Correctional Institution (Mayo)
• Third place: DeSoto Correctional Institution (Arcadia)
• First place shooting team: Okeechobee Correctional Institution (Indiantown)

For the Cross City Correctional Institution, the recognition reinforces the skill, dedication, and teamwork of its K9 handlers — qualities that extend beyond the competition field and into their service to the public.

“These K9 units are a vital part of FDC’s mission,” Dixon said. “Their commitment to excellence and community safety is something every Floridian can be proud of.”

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