TAMPA - The Tampa Police Department gathered K9 teams from across the Bay Area for a special day of water training at Adventure Island on Tuesday.

The annual event offers K9 handlers and their partners a chance to practice teamwork, communication and adaptability.

Why you should care:

With Tampa Bay’s waterways, police say it’s crucial for K9 units to be ready to operate in and around water. The drills included swimming exercises and detection scenarios that simulated real-world conditions.

"Some of these dogs have never experienced water, so getting them acclimated and exposed to the water in a training element will ensure that when they do hit the streets, there’s no hesitance," said Corporal Keith Padellaro, member of the Tampa Police Department.

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