Region 8 as we know it today began as District 3 in 1987. The idea to form this region/district was the brain
child of two individuals. Sgt. Wayne Anderson of the Kingsport PD (now Sheriff Wayne Anderson of Sullivan
County) and J. D. Toth of the Johnson City PD. There were not enough members in this area to become a
Region which requires 25 members. We barely had 10 which is required to be established as District 3 at that
time (we had to get Chief’s and other administrative personnel to join to have enough). These members
consisted of the Kingsport and Johnson City Police Departments and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. We
also had members from southwest Virginia (Bristol VA Sheriff’s Office and the Smythe County Sheriff’s
Department.) Prior to that we had joined either Regions 13(Tennessee), 5(Ohio), or 2(North Carolina). We
enjoyed being in these regions but all 3 were 4 or 5 hours to drive which made it difficult to attend meetings and
training on a monthly basis. At one time, we had some of our current members in all 3 regions and attended
their trials. When our membership grew enough, we asked to become a region in 1989. We had additional
members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Elizabethton, Jonesborough and Bristol Police
Departments. Due to the requirement to establish boarders for our region, which was within an existing region,
we had to get permission from Region 13 to become a region within a region. I believe this is the only such
region within a region today. We also lost our members from Virginia because they technically belonged to
another region. They would still compete at our trials and train with us after that. Our region has always been
active in the canine movement and the improvement of it and its training techniques. We hosted 3 national
events from 1990 to 2000. The National Training Seminar in 1990 and the National Detector Dog Trials in 1996
and 2000. At most executive board meetings we are asked to host another event. Everyone seems to enjoy
themselves in East Tennessee and the “southern hospitality.’’ As one of the founder fathers I must admit that
the current membership has taken this region and training further than I had ever imagined and I’m proud to be
a small part of this organization. As my retirement draws near I hope that I can give more time and help in any
way that they might need.
Captain J. D. Toth
Johnson City Police Department
child of two individuals. Sgt. Wayne Anderson of the Kingsport PD (now Sheriff Wayne Anderson of Sullivan
County) and J. D. Toth of the Johnson City PD. There were not enough members in this area to become a
Region which requires 25 members. We barely had 10 which is required to be established as District 3 at that
time (we had to get Chief’s and other administrative personnel to join to have enough). These members
consisted of the Kingsport and Johnson City Police Departments and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. We
also had members from southwest Virginia (Bristol VA Sheriff’s Office and the Smythe County Sheriff’s
Department.) Prior to that we had joined either Regions 13(Tennessee), 5(Ohio), or 2(North Carolina). We
enjoyed being in these regions but all 3 were 4 or 5 hours to drive which made it difficult to attend meetings and
training on a monthly basis. At one time, we had some of our current members in all 3 regions and attended
their trials. When our membership grew enough, we asked to become a region in 1989. We had additional
members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Elizabethton, Jonesborough and Bristol Police
Departments. Due to the requirement to establish boarders for our region, which was within an existing region,
we had to get permission from Region 13 to become a region within a region. I believe this is the only such
region within a region today. We also lost our members from Virginia because they technically belonged to
another region. They would still compete at our trials and train with us after that. Our region has always been
active in the canine movement and the improvement of it and its training techniques. We hosted 3 national
events from 1990 to 2000. The National Training Seminar in 1990 and the National Detector Dog Trials in 1996
and 2000. At most executive board meetings we are asked to host another event. Everyone seems to enjoy
themselves in East Tennessee and the “southern hospitality.’’ As one of the founder fathers I must admit that
the current membership has taken this region and training further than I had ever imagined and I’m proud to be
a small part of this organization. As my retirement draws near I hope that I can give more time and help in any
way that they might need.
Captain J. D. Toth
Johnson City Police Department
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