Cookeville Officer Leads K-9 Training In State

Cookeville Police Department Major James Harris is a certified dog master trainer, the only one in the state.

Harris certified through the North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA). Harris said he was inspired to be a master trainer once he became the Canine Coordinator for the Cookeville Police Department in 2011.

“Under that umbrella, the title, part of my job is to maintain the training of our police dogs here,” Harris said. “So I wanted to find an accredited organization that would allow me to become a certified trainer.”

It took Harris six years of training and workshops to obtain the Master Trainer title. Harris said the lengthy process and lack of commitment might be why he is the only master trainer in Tennessee.

“It’s not easy,” Harris said. “It was a tough tough test, it was a tough interview, and then on the field, you are actually performing in what you are claiming that your capabilities are.”

Harris said the process of training a dog on narcotics can take a long time.

“It will take me approximately six to eight weeks to train that dog from start to finish,” Harris said. “And then I spend four to six weeks with the handler of that dog team.”

Harris said that NAPWDA is the toughest organization to get Master Trainer certification. Canine units from all over the country have worked with Harris. Harris said that there is a shortage of master trainers nationwide.