La Joya, TX – The La Joya ISD Police Department is celebrating a major victory after two of its K-9 units earned first place in the teams division of the 2025 Texas Narcotic Officer Association (TNOA) K-9 Competition.
Earning top recognition after competing against nine teams and a total of 18 K-9s from across South Texas, K-9 Lucky, along with handler Officer Christian Rosales, and K-9 Tarra, with her handler Officer Hector Garcia, stood out for their precision, skill and teamwork.
“Winning first place out of 18 competitors is a tremendous honor for our department,” said La Joya ISD Police Chief Leonardo Sanchez. “It reflects the hard work, discipline and dedication of our K-9s and their handlers, while also showing the community that the La Joya ISD Police Department is committed to excellence and safety, both in and out of our schools.”
The win spotlights the essential role K-9s play in school safety. From drug and contraband detection to enhancing security coverage and building positive relationships, K-9 units and their handlers support the safety and security of students and staff.
Chief Sanchez praised officers Rosales and Garcia – as well as Lucky and Tarra – for their dedication, patience and professionalism, noting that the strong bond between handler and dog is key to both competition success and everyday campus safety.
“We are very proud of our K-9s and their handlers” added Chief Sanchez. “Their dedication and skills play a vital role in keeping our schools safe while representing our department with excellence.”
La Joya ISD extends its deepest gratitude to Officers Garcia and Rosales – as well as to their K-9 partners – for their dedication, patience and professionalism. Their success brings honor to the department and further strengthens the district’s mission to maintain safe and secure learning environments.