541.265.4277

After receiving the support and approval from the City Council, the Newport Police Department implemented a narcotics detection canine to the Patrol Division. The funds budgeted by the Police Department for the K9 program were years in the making, as the Department saw the benefit and need of a K9 team.

In February 2017, the Newport Police Department purchased a two-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix named “Nero” from Pacific Coast K9 in Custer, Washington. Nero detects the odor of Methamphetamine, Heroin and Cocaine.

Nero was paired with Officer Hayden Randall, and they received three weeks of in-house training. After receiving training, Officer Randall and Nero passed the OPCA Narcotics Detection Standards certifying them as a K9 team in the State of Oregon. The OPCA certification test includes the search of buildings, vehicles, rooms, and outdoor areas. To pass the OPCA certification test, K9 teams must obtain 100% accuracy.

K9 Nero has been deployed multiple times in many different applications, including traffic stops, search warrants, jail sweeps, and school sweeps. K9 Nero was also deployed for several different Lincoln County law enforcement agencies, as well as federal agencies. K9 Nero has aided in several narcotics investigations that have led to the seizure of substantial amounts of Methamphetamine, Heroin, and U.S. currency obtained from the sale of illegal narcotics. He has quickly become a valuable asset to the Police Department and the community, making Newport a safer place to live, work, play, learn, and visit.

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In August, 2019, our newest addition to our K9 program is K9 Zoe and her handler, Officer Aaron Bales. The pair passed their Oregon Police Canine Association (OPCA) certification test to become a Certified Narcotic Detection Team.  K9 Zoe is a two-year-old Belgian Malinois trained to detect the odor of Methamphetamine, Heroin and Cocaine. She was acquired from the State of Jefferson Working Dogs in Gold Hill, Oregon. K9 Zoe and Officer Bales completed several weeks of training prior to taking their OPCA certification test.  K9 Zoe and Officer Bales will be assigned to the Patrol Division and working opposite shifts of K9 Nero and Officer Randall.  The addition of K9 Zoe will allow NPD to have the opportunity to have K9 coverage seven days a week to better serve our community.

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Our K9 t-shirts are available to order online! For a $25 donation (shipping included), you will receive a 100% cotton Gildan t-shirt. All proceeds go directly to our K9 program in support of K9 Nero and K9 Zoe. We currently have:

Men's sizes Medium, Large, XL, 2XL, 3XL and 4XL

Women's V-neck sizes Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2XL, 3XL and 4XL

If you prefer to use PayPal, please send appropriate amount for the number of shirts desired to: npdk9shirts@gmail.com

Please state in your email your mailing address, and the number and size shirts needed.

You may also order by mail by sending a check or money order made payable to:

Newport Police Volunteers Association - Attn: Kit O’Carra

169 SW Coast Hwy

Newport, OR 97365.

If you prefer to pick up a shirt at NPD in person, the donation requested is $20 per shirt. The shirts are available Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (** Please call 541-574-3348 first due to Covid-19 restrictions and limited hours of access to City Hall.)

The Newport Police Volunteers Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.