K9 Buster served a long and distinguished career in law enforcement with both the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office and the Lovelock Police Department as a certified Narcotics Detection Canine.
Early Career & Pershing County Sheriff’s Office Buster was acquired from Cedar Homes Kennel in Stanwood, Washington, where he received his specialized narcotics detection training. He began his official service with the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office in May 1996 alongside his first partner, Deputy Kenji Okuma. Just one month into their partnership, in June 1996, Buster made a major seizure, locating 87 pounds of marijuana.
In June 1997, Buster was paired with Sergeant Michael Mancebo. The two traveled to Stanwood, Washington, to complete their handler training team certification.
Lovelock Police Department & Inter-Agency Service When Sgt. Mancebo was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Lovelock in January 1999, Buster transitioned with him to the city department. Together, they continued their proactive narcotics work, including a notable traffic stop seizure of nearly 13 pounds of marijuana entering Lovelock.
Throughout his career, Buster’s talent was routinely requested by regional partners. He assisted numerous agencies, including:
- Nevada Highway Patrol
- Nevada Department of Parole and Probation
- Humboldt/Pershing Narcotics Task Force
- Nevada Department of Corrections
Retirement & Legacy Buster officially retired in 2005 due to health reasons. Even in retirement, he remained a loyal companion to Chief Mancebo, continuing to visit City Hall every day. Following a brave battle with declining health, K9 Buster passed away on April 13, 2006. His decade of service and dedication to Pershing County and the City of Lovelock will always be remembered.