Police from across country compete in ‘Super Bowl of K-9s' in Atlantic City

More than 100 elite police K-9 teams from across the country are in Atlantic City this week, competing in a national event that’s also helping them prepare for major security operations tied to large crowds this summer.

The U.S. Police Canine Association’s 2026 National Detector Dog Trials — hosted by Stockton University police — are bringing together highly trained dogs and their handlers for two days of competition and certification at the Jersey Shore.

Inside a casino event space, handlers are running controlled scenarios designed to test how accurately dogs can detect specific scents. For Stockton University Police Chief Tracy Stuart and her K-9 partner Freya, a golden retriever trained to detect explosives, the exercises mirror the kind of high-stakes environments they could soon face.

“It’s particularly important the year for the explosive detection dogs because of the fact that FIFA is taking place,” Stuart said.

More than 100 law enforcement teams are taking part in the trials, which include dogs trained to detect bombs, drugs, accelerants and human remains.

“This is the Super Bowl of K-9s right here,” said Tom Conroy, co-organizer of the National Detector Dog Trials.

Handlers say the event is critical to ensuring their dogs are ready for real-world assignments.

“It’s important to make sure that our dogs are functional and they can find the odors that they’re looking for,” said Patrolman Darryl Jackson of the Holmdel Township Police Department.

Many of the teams are preparing to sweep venues and search for threats at large-scale events expected to draw massive crowds across the region this summer, including the FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations.

“For the dogs to have this opportunity to hone their skills and to test their skills — it’s only going to help with the safety and security,” Stuart said.

While organizers say the timing of the competition wasn’t planned specifically around those upcoming events, they say it offers a significant benefit.

“There are a lot of bomb dogs that are already in training for that. To have that skill sharp — this will only make it even better,” Conroy said.

The competition is giving K-9 teams a crucial edge as they prepare for the challenges of securing large, high-profile events with unpredictable risks.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.