Stockton University Police Chief Tracy Stuart and her K-9 partner, Freya, proved they are the best in the nation this week, securing a perfect score to win the explosives detection division at the United States Police Canine Association’s (USPCA) 2026 National Detector Dog Trials.
The victory was a “home turf” win for the duo, as Stockton University hosted the trials at Harrah’s Atlantic City. The event brought together more than 100 law enforcement agencies from as far away as Oregon and Texas to compete in a series of rigorous safety and security tests.
For Stuart, the win reinforces years of dedication to K-9 training. This is her second national title with Freya, a 10-year-old golden retriever, following a 2022 win in Georgia. Stuart also previously secured back-to-back national titles in 2018 and 2019 with her former partner, Hemi.
“It doesn’t quite feel real, to be honest,” Stuart said. “Dreams do come true. It’s beautiful to really have that reinforcement of the fact that preparation really does pay off.”
The competition tested the K-9 teams across multiple disciplines, including:
- Odor Recognition: Identifying specific explosive scents.
- Parcel Searches: Finding hidden threats within packages.
- Vehicle & Room Sweeps: Navigating complex environments to locate explosives.
Harrah’s Atlantic City dedicated an entire floor of the hotel to the trials, providing a realistic and challenging environment for the handlers and their dogs.
The event served as a homecoming for several participants. Detective Rob Balestrieri of the Trenton Police Department, a 2009 Stockton alumnus, competed for the first time with his black lab, Vita. “I haven’t been back to Stockton since graduation, so I jumped at the opportunity to come,” Balestrieri said, praising the university’s organization of the event.
While the win was a celebration of skill, it also marked a bittersweet moment. Given Freya’s age, Stuart indicated this might be their final national competition.
“Every Olympian, when they get to a certain point in their career, finishes competing,” Stuart explained. “It doesn’t mean they put away their best running shoes. Her performance is obviously stellar, so she’s still going to be protecting and serving, but competing is different.”
Beyond the trophies, Chief Stuart emphasized that hosting the trials in Atlantic City highlights Stockton University’s commitment to broader public safety.
“We want the public to know that safety is important to the university,” Stuart said. “I know Stockton has a good dog to protect and serve this community.”
