Meet K9 Vader
Narcotics K-9 Officer M. Gettle and K9 Vader's Tail
My K-9 partner “Vader” and I (Narcotics K-9 Officer Gettle) were lucky enough to come to the McCleary Police Department as a team in June 2018. Unfortunately K-9 Vader did not get to work right away because the McCleary Police Department did not have a K-9 Vehicle. Thanks to the generous donation from OUR COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION the McCleary Police Department was able to purchase my used K-9 vehicle from my last department.
K-9 Vader is a 5 year old Belgian Malinois. K-9 Vader came from Europe to the Vohne Liche Kennels where he was purchased. Since then K-9 Vader has been certified twice by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and Washington State Police Canine Association. K-9 Vader and I did so well as a team on our most recent testing I was awarded Master Handler.
K-9 Vader is trained to detect Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Heroin, ecstasy and Methamphetamine. Upon locating of any of these controlled substances, K-9 Vader will exhibit a specific change of behavior by intense closed mouth sniffing and increased focus of searching while working towards the source of the narcotic odor. Once the narcotic odor source is identified, K-9 Vader will display a "passive" alert by sitting at the closest pinpointed source of the narcotic odor.
Since working in McCleary K-9 Vader and I have been able to assist several different Law Enforcement Agency’s including Washington State Patrol, Elma P.D., McCleary Police Department, Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office, and Mason County Sheriff’s Office. In the past K-9 Vader and I have worked with the FBI, US Marshall’s, Drug Enforcement Agency, Washington Department of Corrections and Homeland Security Narcotic Teams.
K-9 Vader and I look forward to working with the community and assisting all the surrounding agencies.
Thank you for your support.
