New K-9 dog is on the job at the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Department

Winneshiek County Deputy Steve Nesvik and new K9 Deputy McCoy

"McCoy," an 18-month old Belgian Malinois who specializes in tracking and locating as well as drug detection, has begun working as the new K-9 dog at the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office.
 
McCoy was born in the Slovak Republic, where he spent most of his life preparing to be a service dog.  He then was transferred to a training facility in Arkansas before traveling to yet another training facility in Iowa where he met his handler, Deputy Steve Nesvik.  After additional coaching as a team, Deputy Nesvik returned to Winneshiek County with McCoy.  The pair begins duty together this week, and will continue to train on a daily basis.  
   
Last November, the office's former K9 deputy, Ricky, was diagnosed with a brain tumor, dying just one week later.  Reading the story in the Waterloo Courier, Betty McCoy of Waterloo gave an unsolicited donation to cover the cost of purchasing a new dog.  Betty, who had no ties to Winneshiek County and was 89 years old at the time, died after a 4-year battle with cancer in January of this year.  In her memory, the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office named the new canine, McCoy.

"We are excited that McCoy has joined the department," says Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx. "With the topography of Winneshiek County, we were looking for a canine that, along with drug detection abilities, was highly skilled in tracking and locating.  McCoy is able to find lost children and adults, or suspects of a crime hiding from law enforcement, and lead emergency personnel right to them.  He will be incredibly helpful in our efforts to serve Winneshiek County."

Deputy Nesvik says, "When my wife, Amanda, and I were returning home with McCoy, we stopped to introduce him to Betty's daughter, Kathy McCoy and her family.  We were welcomed into her home and McCoy jumped straight into Betty's favorite chair and settled right in.  Although he never met Betty, McCoy seemed to already know her and how special she was." 

McCoy lives with the Nesvik family when they are not on official duty. 

To help with the on-going costs of a K9 deputy, the American Legion is sponsoring an on-air fund-raiser through KVIK radio on Thursday, March 10th.  More information about this radio event will be shared by KVIK and the American Legion in the coming weeks.