AKC President and CEO Dennis B. Sprung presented the Award to United States Capitol Police Chief Matthew R. Verderosa, Assistant Chief Steven A. Sund, Deputy Chief Fred P. Rogers and Technician Shawn Haynes, who were accompanied by Will, a black Labrador Retriever. “I am honored to present this award,” said Sprung. “It is a token of our immense respect and admiration for the outstanding and rigorous job the dedicated U.S. Capitol Police K-9 teams perform daily. There is no doubt about the enormous role that these dogs play in assuring the security of the U.S. Capitol, and our national security.” “We appreciate this recognition of the important role our K-9 teams play in keeping the U.S. Capitol safe and secure,” said Chief Matthew Verderosa. “All of our technicians and canines are highly-trained and extremely dedicated to fulfilling our mission.” The ceremony took place at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center as part of AKC’s celebration of working and purpose-bred dogs on National Purebred Dog Day. About the U.S. Capitol Police: The United States Capitol Police (USCP) is a CALEA nationally-accredited, federal law enforcement agency. The USCP safeguards the Congress, Members of Congress, employees, visitors, and Congressional buildings and grounds from crime, disruption, and terrorism. The USCP protects and secures Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional and legislative responsibilities in a safe, secure, and open environment. About The AKC: The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.