Woody Nestor, 80, Former DC Police K-9 Officer and Marine Dies

Woodrow L. “Woody” Nestor, a former Metropolitan Police Department K-9 officer and Marine veteran, died Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, The Dominion Post reported.

Nestor was 80 years old at the time of his death. He had been battling renal failure, a condition that required extensive care from medical professionals and support networks in his final days.

Born on September 11, 1946, in Kingwood, Nestor was the third of five children born to the late Samuel and Grace Nestor. His upbringing was rooted in the traditions of West Virginia, beginning with his first eight years of education in a one-room schoolhouse before his family moved to Kingwood.

After graduating from Kingwood High School in 1964, Nestor entered military service by joining the Marines. His service included a deployment to Vietnam, a period of duty that preceded his recruitment by the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.

Nestor’s tenure with the Metropolitan Police Department saw him transition through various roles before he found his niche in the K-9 division. He eventually spent his final 13 years working within the Special Operations Division bomb squad.

Washington dc usa may police patrol car used by the metropolitan police department with emergency lights flashing

During his time in the bomb squad, Nestor worked alongside several police dogs, including Shep, Joey, and Haywire. His specialized work contributed to the protection of five sitting Presidents of the United States.

Following his career in law enforcement, Nestor transitioned into the private sector, owning a landscaping business in Virginia. This period of entrepreneurship preceded his move to the American West.

In 1991, while working briefly in Washington, D.C., Nestor met Judy Winiarz. He famously initiated their relationship with the line, “Can I mow your lawn?” The couple married on April 21, 1994, and maintained homes in Chicago, Cheyenne, and Riverside.

When Judy retired in 2005, the couple relocated to Wyoming to be near her mother’s family homestead. While Nestor maintained deep ties to his West Virginia roots, he became an avid enthusiast of the Wyoming landscape, frequently spending time in the Snowy Range, Sierra Madre Range, and Battle Mountain.

He was an active member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), embodying a lifestyle of civic engagement and patriotism.

Nestor is survived by his wife, Judy; his son, Mark; his sisters, Martha, Shirley, and Jackie; his sister-in-law, Debby; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dave; brothers-in-law, Bobby, Bud, and Rick; and his nephew, Greg.

A celebration of life is planned for this summer in Riverside. His ashes will be spread alongside the ashes of his dog, Haywire, and his five rescue dogs.

The family expressed gratitude to the medical teams at Davis Hospice Center, Fresenius Kidney Care, the VA, and the various doctors at CRMC who supported him during his illness.