Oska (pronounced OH-skaa), a European born German Shepard, joined his Los Alamitos police family in December, 2000. He was obedience trained in Holland and imported to this country by Patrick Beltz, founder of International Works Dogs, Inc., who coordinates and conducts the police service dog training for the police department.

Officer John Ema is Oska’s handler, and after extensive training, the two have become part of the normal patrol deployment in the city. Oska lives at his handler's home and has become part of his family. This is crucial for the bonding necessary between the handler and the canine if they are to work effectively together. Officer Ema had to become proficient in giving commands in German, as this is the language Oska recognizes.

The K9 Team conducts proactive patrol and responds to calls for service just like other officers in the department. The Team is also used to respond to crimes in progress and is utilized for the tracking and apprehension of suspects of serious crimes. Keen senses give Oska the ability to quickly track and locate suspects, which can save many man-hours and give officers an added measure of safety in a variety of police activities. Canines are quite successful in their searches. If patrol officers are able to establish a perimeter and contain a suspect, Oska will find them. In addition, these tracking capabilities give the Team an advantage in searching for lost and missing children, juveniles, and adults. With additional training, the Team is a valuable asset in our mission to detect and remove narcotics from our community.

If you have any questions, you can e-mail Officer Ema and Oska here.