ANDREW GENTA
Andrew Genta is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in law enforcement and canine training. Andrew began his career as a Patrol Officer for the Colorado Springs Police Department in the Gold Hill Division in July 2003. He later served as a Community Impact Team Officer from April 2007 to December 2008, focusing on violent crime patterns, gang activity, and illegal possession of narcotics and firearms.
In December 2008, Andrew transitioned to the Canine (K9) Unit as a handler, providing trained K9 support to safeguard the community and deter criminal activity. His expertise in canine operations grew, and by June 2013, he became a Canine Unit Trainer and Handler, where he trained handler teams in problem-solving techniques and maintenance training for Police Service Dogs (PSDs). From July 2018 to January 2023, Andrew served as the Canine Unit Trainer, overseeing training programs for dual-purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection teams, Explosive Detection teams, and Narcotics Detection teams. He has trained 37 teams to date.
Andrew has also been a National Police Canine Association (NPCA) Instructor since September 2018, leading regional training sessions, judging, and certifying Police K9 Handler Teams in official National Police Canine Trials. He previously served as an NPCA Certifying Official from March 2015 to September 2018.
His dedication and excellence have earned him numerous awards. Andrew has completed extensive specialized training in areas such as gang activity, crisis intervention, tactical environments, hostage negotiation, canine training, drug interdiction, cryptocurrency investigations, and child exploitation. Andrew is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association, Rocky Mountain Hostage Negotiators Association, National Police Canine Association, and others. He also contributes to periodicals such as National Police and Fire International and Police K9 Magazine, sharing his expertise and insights with the broader law enforcement community.
Jeremy Sheldon
Jeremy Sheldon is a dedicated law enforcement professional with over 20 years of experience serving as a Police Officer with the City of Colorado Springs. He has developed extensive expertise in police service dog patrol deployment, narcotics scent detection, and rapid emergency response.
Jeremy began his career in 2004 as a Patrol Officer, responding to emergency calls, conducting investigations, and enforcing traffic laws across various divisions in Colorado Springs. In 2015, he joined the Specialized Enforcement Division’s Canine Unit as a canine handler, where he received hundreds of hours of training in police K9 behavior, decoy techniques, and scent detection. He also completed a 220-hour trainer’s course in detection, specializing in narcotics, explosives, and human odor.
Throughout his career, Jeremy has undergone extensive specialized training, including SWAT School, Rapid Emergency Deployment Instructor certification, K9 Academy, and advanced courses in odor recognition, e-collar training, and muzzle training. He has also participated in monthly SWAT/K9 training for nine years, focusing on barricades, high-risk area searches, and building clearing.
