lets-law enforcement K9 training to achieve and maintain specific scent reliability.

My name is Autumn Espe and I am a 16 year old Minnesota high-school student. I have been working with L.E.T.S. for three years now. I started coming when my neighbor, who worked at the location of the L.E.T.S. classes, invited me to come along. She knew I had an interest in law enforcement and k-9’s. I thought that I would simply be allowed to observe the training. Little did I know that observation is not an option. That first year the instructors were in need of volunteers to run trails for the tracking dogs and I was a perfect candidate. In no time at all I was running trails for them and loving every minute of it.

I came back the next year and then the one after that. This last June was my third year as a volunteer track runner. It was during the summer between my second and third conferences that I began work on a scrapbook. Many of the handlers from the year before had given me pictures of the dogs and handlers working. I made the book for a 4-H project and as something for me to remember each individual year. It gives a look into what we do, and the fun we have. It is only a glimpse but I hope many people can enjoy it.

Autumn has been attending the St Louis County tracking class the last few years and has been a great help and inspiration to us as instructors and to all of the handlers. Autumn has never questioned nor complained of what we asked from her. One thing that always comes to mind is that I asked her to run a track for a patrol dog and the scenario was when I stopped the van for her to jump out and run, well before I could stop she was out of the van rolling on the ground then jumped up and ran like she had just committed a crime. Autumn does not only lay tracks she takes the time to record the time she starts, how long it takes and how long she sits waiting for the tracking team to find her. All Autumn ever wants back in return is to see the team run a good track. I always ask myself at the end of the day if I would want a handler working for me, and I always answer that question about Autumn with a YES.

Autumn has been getting her sister Brenna to also come and help and she is just as great, their parents have done a great job at teaching these girls the good values of life.