Retirement: Doggone boring
BY ZACK STOYCOFF World Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
11/14/12 at 2:53 AM
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BROKEN ARROW - Sgt. Eric Nester and his partner in the Broken Arrow Police Department had been accustomed to spending at least eight hours a day in a patrol car together.
Now they say goodbye with a pat and a whimper as Nester dons his uniform every morning.
"He doesn't really like being without me, especially if he knows I'm going to work," Nester said. "He's kind of protested a little bit."
Kilo, an 8-year-old German Shepherd, retired from the Special Investigations Unit last week after a six-year career that netted 202 felony arrests and helped recover more than 100 pounds of drugs.
He had been on reserve duty since May, largely spending his days playing and lying around Nester's house, where he has lived for his entire career.
But he hasn't given up pouting when Nester leaves in the morning. And he still jumps into the patrol car when Nester's not looking.
"It's kind of my bonding time with him, sitting in the car with him for eight to 10 hours a day," Nester said. "He'll continue to be with me. He just won't go to work with me anymore."
Kilo was the first Broken Arrow police dog to spend his entire career sniffing out drugs, rather than switching between assignments, Nester said.
Most of his discoveries came during traffic stops or post office searches that led police to much larger drug busts, so his directly attributable statistics don't tell the whole story, Nester said.
Kilo has sniffed out $51,407 in cash, 182 ecstasy tablets, 50.18 pounds of marijuana, 20 ounces of PCP, 18 guns, 9.62 ounces of methamphetamine crystal or powder, 8.10 ounces of cocaine and seven meth labs.
But because most of those findings served as probable cause for searching suspects' homes, follow-up investigations led to 50 or more additional felony arrests, $110,000 in cash, 65 pounds of marijuana and caches of the other drugs, Nester said.
"Even though we have stats as a measuring unit, I believe his contributions to the citizens of Broken Arrow are immeasurable," he said. "His involvement made several cases possible that would not have been without him, and several cases were significantly easier with his assistance."
Kilo was suited for drug investigations because he worked well in "passive alert" mode, which means he helped the department avoid lawsuits by avoiding biting or scratching suspects with drugs in their clothing, Nester said.
That kind of work fit his personality well, he said.
"He's actually really nice," Nester said. "I never told the bad guys that."
Ryker, Kilo's replacement, began duty last week, Nester said. The department has four police dogs.
Kilo trained with balls that represented rewards for finding drugs, Nester said. He now gets his favorite ball at home without any of the work.
That's one perk of retirement: getting to be a regular dog, Nester said.
"If I give him the command to (work), he will. Otherwise, he's a dog," he said.
"It will take some time, but I am sure he will ease into retirement and begin to enjoy the slower life."
Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Sgt. Eric Nester is pictured with his dog Kilo, the first Broken Arrow police dog to spend his entire career sniffing out drugs. Kilo retired last week. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Most of Kilo's discoveries came during traffic stops or post office searches that led police to much larger drug busts. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
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