6/2/2008
Officer, partner win canine trial division

Simi Valley Police Officer Vince Allegra and his canine partner Rocco were awarded first place overall in the novice division in last month's Redondo Beach Police Canine Trials.

This year, 28 police canine teams from across California participated in the 21st annual competition.

In their second year together at the competition, Allegra and Rocco were challenged in the areas of obedience, agility, narcotics detection, suspect searches, suspect apprehension and canine handler protection.

Last year, they were awarded first place in the Tactical Obedience portion of the event.

Allegra and his first canine partner, Hasko, won awards at the Redondo Beach trials in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006, as well as one bronze and two silver medals in the 2005 World Police and Fire Games in Canada.

Allegra is a 12-year Simi Police Department veteran and has been a canine handler for eight years.