Search Teams

Our Search Teams

California Regional Task Force 7 (CA-RTF7) Ventura County

California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1) Los Angeles City

California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) Los Angeles County

California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) Bay Area

California Task Force 4 (CA-TF4) Oakland

California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5) Orange County

California Task Force 7 (CA-TF7) Sacramento

California Task Force 8 (CA-TF8) San Diego

Nebraska Task Force 1 (NE-TF1)

New York Task Force 2 (NY-TF2)

Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OK-TF1)

Tijuana Task Force 1 (TIJ-TF1)

Utah Task Force 1 (UT-TF1)

Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2)

Leon & Lee Culley

Leon & Lee Culley

 

Team Info

 

Task Force: Utah Task Force 1 (UT-TF1)
Level: In training to certify

 

 

Search Dog Info

 

Breed: Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd Mix
Sex: Male
Born: October 24, 2024
Recruited from Tri-City Animal Shelter
Sponsor: Jill Bee and Loren Glasser, Carol Marengo, Farmers Insurance

 

 

Leon’s journey began in Fremont, California, when his owner decided to surrender him to the Tri-City Animal Shelter because he could not manage Leon’s incredible energy. On top of his boundless drive, Leon was an escape artist, routinely figuring out how to “Houdini” his way out of the enclosed backyard in search of something to do. The shelter placed him with a local foster who happened to be a dog trainer experienced with working breeds. After Leon’s initial videos were submitted for review, SDF enlisted the help of California Task Force 4 handlers Brian Medley and Erik Falkenstrom to test him on the rubble at their San Ramon training site. Brian and Erik were absolutely delighted and impressed by Leon’s talent, giving him the green light to officially join the program. 

 

Upon arriving at the National Training Center, Leon proved to be a remarkably quick learner, making rapid progress in his foundational skills. He quickly advanced through our program, rocking his rubble searches, learning diffuse odor, and passing all his proficiencies and advanced elements. Leon proved to be an incredibly fun boy to work with, balancing his intense work ethic on the pile with a soft side that loves a good cuddle. The training staff was thrilled to watch him thrive and prepare for his true calling. 

Leon’s handler, Lee Culley, became a first responder because she has always loved helping people out of tough situations, and the fire service provided the perfect avenue to do just that. Lee grew up breeding and raising German Shepherds, and as she got older, she transitioned into showing and training horses. Combining this deep-rooted passion for dogs and horses felt natural, and turning that expertise into a career dedicated to helping others made it even better. Lee first learned about SDF nearly twenty-five years ago when she reached out to the Los Angeles team following the tragic events of September 11. 

 

Leon marks an incredible milestone for Lee, as this is her fifth search dog overall and what she calls her “three-and-a-half’th” canine from the Search Dog Foundation, having previously cross-certified with another handler’s SDF canine, Lady. Lee’s first impression of Leon was that he is simply an incredible canine. While Leon had a very strong connection with his SDF trainer on campus, the turning point for their partnership came when they first worked together. Leon immediately responded to Lee, and the two hit it off right from the start. 

 

Lee and Leon were officially paired on July 18, 2026. As they step into their career together, Lee’s short-term goal is to achieve their official deployment certification sooner rather than later. Long-term, she is dedicated to developing an unbreakable bond with Leon, reaching a level of seamless partnership where she can perfectly read her canine partner’s body language without ever needing to use a single word. We are honored to watch Lee continue her incredible legacy with SDF alongside Leon, and we look forward to seeing this veteran handler and talented canine protect communities together.