The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office announced the retirement of K-9 deputy McCoy on Wednesday (July 9).
McCoy, a Belgian Malinois, was born on May 24, 2014, in the Slovak Republic. He underwent training in Arkansas before traveling to North Iowa K-9 in Fort Dodge where he met his handler, deputy Steve Nesvik.
His active duty with the WCSO began in Feb. 2016 and went through July 2025 as he helped assist in finding narcotics, tracking, article recovery, and performing apprehension work.
McCoy was obtained by the Sheriff’s Office thanks to an unsolicited donation from Betty McCoy of Waterloo, who read a story in an area newspaper about the passing of former WCSO K-9 deputy Ricky, who died in 2015 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office thanked all who assisted with K-9 McCoy throughout his career, including the McCoy family, North Iowa K-9, the American Legion Riders, LA Communications, Thorton Feed and Grain, Decorah Vet Clinic, Dogs for Law Enforcement, United States Police Canine Association, Code Blue K9, and many other businesses, entities, and individuals which offered continued support to the Sheriff’s Office’s K-9 fund throughout the years.
K-9 McCoy will enjoy his retirement with the Nesvik family at his home in Calmar. The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office will continue operating with one K-9 Unit, Drago, who is handled by deputy Logan Hopp.