Corona, CA - GAK9NTC, Redemption Road K9 (RRK9), GA‑CERT K9, and La Sierra University’s Department of Criminal Justice today announced GAK9‑SoCAL and the LED‑21® Tactical Search, Rescue & Recovery Initiative — a research‑driven program to professionalize tactical K9 training, certification, and rapid‑response capability across Southern California.
LED‑21® combines university oversight, IRB‑approved applied research, and frontline operational instruction to produce mission‑ready K9 teams for tactical tracking, K9 search and rescue, human‑remains detection, disaster response, K9 medic operations, narcotics detection, and courtroom advocacy. GAK9‑SoCAL will serve as the region’s dedicated tactical K9 training hub and field deployment center, offering an end‑to‑end pipeline from classroom learning and academic credit to supervised field experience and certified deployment.
“LED‑21® represents a new standard in K9 workforce development — rigorous scholarship informing practical training and field experience shaping scholarly inquiry,” said Dr. Shirin Shahor, Program Coordinator for LED‑21® and GAK9 liaison. “Our goal is to deliver verifiable capability and transparent accountability to public‑safety agencies and communities that depend on K9 teams in the most consequential missions.”
Regional Service Area and Delivery Model
GAK9‑SoCAL will provide tactical K9 training, certification, and rapid‑response support throughout Southern California, including San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, San Diego, and Imperial counties. Key service regions include Los Angeles metro, Ventura County coast, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo corridor, Orange County, the Inland Empire, Coachella Valley, San Diego metro, and Imperial County.
Mobile training teams and rotating regional hubs will be used to ensure local access, fast deployment, and tailored courses for law enforcement, search and rescue (SAR), fire, EMS, and K9 handlers.
Expert Instructors and Quality Assurance
The collaboration combines GAK9NTC’s evidence‑based tracking methodology with RRK9’s trauma‑informed field practice, GA‑CERT K9’s volunteer deployment expertise, and La Sierra University’s academic rigor. GAK9NTC founders Jeff and Shayne Schettler provide subject‑matter leadership and instructor certification. Together, the partners deliver standardized, defensible training that agencies can trust.
“Our unified standards, certification pathway, and academic credit offerings give agencies confidence in procuring consistently trained, mission‑ready K9 teams and create sustainable career pathways for handlers,” said Jeff Schettler, subject‑matter expert in tracking and founder and lead instructor of GAK9NTC. “GAK9‑SoCAL will set the operational and technical benchmark for tactical tracking and trailing in the region.”
Registration, Media and Contact
LED‑21® course schedules, registration, and sponsor information are available at the LED‑21 program portal (sshahor@lasierra.edu). Media and partner inquiries: sshahor@lasierra.edu or contact@gacertk9.org. Program inquiries: Phone: +1 (678) 609‑3384.
About the Collaborators
- GAK9NTC: national training center specializing in evidence‑based tracking and trailing instruction.
- Redemption Road K9 (RRK9): operational K9 training and services organization focused on trauma‑informed field methods.
- GA‑CERT K9: emergency response K9 teams providing disaster and recovery support.
- La Sierra University — Department of Criminal Justice: academic anchor delivering applied research, internships, and credit pathways.
To learn more, visit:
Media Contact
Company Name: Law Enforcement Dogs for the 21st Century (LED?21®)
Contact Person: Dr. Shirin Shahor
Email: Send Email
City: Los Angeles
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: www.gacertk9.org
