Officer Gary Shavers and Mato competed in trials held in Marshall County in April 2008. There were approximately 60 K9s and handlers present from Region 22 (Alabama and Georgia). Many have competed numerous times without winning awards. This was Mato's first competition!

Mato won four awards:
Medallion - First Place - Obedience
Medallion - Fourth Place - Criminal Apprehension
Tall Trophy - Second Place - Overall patrol canine
Short Trophy - Third Place - Dual purpose canine for drugs and patrol

Mato has since won other trophies, awards & medallions at other trials:

2010 USPCA Region 22 PD1 Obedience 1^st place

2011Overall Dual Purpose Region 22 Chatt, TN First  Place

2011 Overall PD1 Region 22 Chatt, TN Second Place

2012 Overall PD1 Region 22 G’ville, AL Third Place

2012 Overall Dual Purpose Region 22 G’ville, AL Third Place

2011 Medallion Obedience Region 22 Chatt, TN Third Place

2011 Medallion Criminal Apprehension Region 22 Chatt, TN Third Place

2012 Medallion Obedience Region 22 G’ville, AL Third Place

We are very proud of Mato.

On May 28, 2007 the Scottsboro Police Department enhanced their capabilities to serve the Scottsboro citizens by welcoming Mato to the force.

Mato was born in December of 2005, in Czechoslovakia. Mato is a German Shepard and has received special training to detect six (6) different odors of narcotics. He has also been trained for tracking people and police patrol. Mato was formally trained by the Huntsville Police Department's K-9 training program and has been nationally certified as a dual purpose police dog.

Officer Shavers joined the Scottsboro Police Department on June 2004. He became the K-9 handler in October 2007. The duo attended a 13 week training course at the Huntsville Police Department.

The Scottsboro Police Department is looking forward to utilizing Mato and Officer Shavers to assist with patrol, rescue, tracking, and drug enforcement. Office Shavers and Mato do routine school searches in Scottsboro and Jackson County.

Chief Dawe will evaluate the K-9 unit and if it does well, he will seriously consider additional K-9 units.