OPD Announces Retirement Of K-9 Nash
Lt. Gary McClun and his K-9 partner Nash (submitted photo)
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa Police Department would like to announce the retirement of its K-9, Nash. Nash has been a member of the department since October 2003 and began working the streets of Oskaloosa in December, 2003. Nash had been paired with Lt. Gary McClun to form the K-9 unit.
Nash is the second K-9 that has been a member of the department, following Quest who served the community from 1996 until 2003. Like his predecessor, Nash was a dual purpose police dog, meaning he was trained in narcotic detection and also in criminal apprehension work.
Lt. McClun and Nash attended the Top Dog Police Canine Academy in Evansville, Indiana for six weeks in 2003. At the school, Nash received training in locating marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. Other areas of training included obedience, agility, suspect search, article search, building search, tracking, and criminal apprehension with and without gunfire. At the time of graduation, Nash was certified at the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) standards.
Nash’s first day patrolling the streets of Oskaloosa was on December 10, 2003. Nash’s first drug find came shortly after on December 16, 2003. Nash has been used for vehicle searches, residence searches, suspicious package searches as well as building searches, tracking, and suspect searches in wooded areas.
Nash has helped the department in locating marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine within the city. The police department has also allowed Lt. McClun and K-9 Nash to assist other local agencies and departments. Over the years, Nash has assisted the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, the Department of Transportation, the Pella Police Department, the Ottumwa Police Department, the Knoxville Police Department, the Department of Narcotic Enforcement (DNE), the Department of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Service, and the Southeast Iowa Drug Task Force. Nash has also assisted William Penn University security and the Oskaloosa School District.
Nash has given numerous demonstrations at various community functions. Nash has been a regular at D.A.R.E. Graduations at the Oskaloosa Elementary School as well as visiting some classrooms. Nash has made stops at local church groups, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and nursing homes.
During his time working the street, Nash was certified through the USPCA in both narcotic detection and police dog work. Certification was completed annually and many times Nash brought home awards from the competitions. Nash has received the following awards:
* 2004 USPCA Narcotic Trial – 4th place
* 2004 USPCA Narcotic Trial – Top Rookie Dog
* 2006 USPCA Police Dog One Trial – 3rd Place overall
* 2007 USPCA Narcotic Trial – 3rd Place Team
* 2009 USPCA Police Dog One Trial – 1st Place overall
* 2009 USPCA Police Dog One National Certification
* 2010 USPCA Police Dog One Trial – 2nd place criminal apprehension
* 2011 USPCA Narcotic Trial – 2nd place room searches
