MESA COUNTY, COLO. - The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that Deputy William Correll and K9 Oso, a narcotics detection dog, placed first in their overall division during the K9 Challenge, a fundraiser competition hosted by the High Desert Police K9 Association. 

Deputy Correll and K9 Oso were paired together in September 2025 and spent two months bonding and training. The pair began actively searching for narcotics and contraband within the Mesa County Detention Facility in November 2025.

Since November, K9 Oso and Deputy Correll have successfully located and seized contraband, such as retained medication, and narcotics inmates have attempted to introduce into the Mesa County Detention Facility.

The K9 Challenge hosted by the High Desert Police K9 Association included multiple K9 teams from across Colorado and Utah. Deputy Correll and K9 Oso competed within the 3-years-of-age and under group in Narcotics Detection (timed), Speed (timed), agility, and obedience. The pair took first place in both Narcotics Detection and Speed for K9 Oso’s age group, and took first overall in narcotics detection out of all competing teams by three seconds.

Two aspects make this accomplishment extremely impressive: Deputy Correll and K9 Oso have been a bonded and working pair for less than a year and they were the only Detentions pair in the entire competition.

Deputy Correll and K9 Oso train weekly with Deanie Earthman, founder of the High Desert Police K9 Association and police K9 trainer of over 20 years. Deanie has been a wonderful support and mentor of Deputy Correll and K9 Oso. The pair were proud to show off the skills she has imparted on them!

Congratulations to Deputy Correll and K9 Oso, and to High Desert Police K9 for hosting a wonderful competition.