Nashville K-9 Unit Hands Off to New Handler
Officer Rebecca Castleman takes over the K-9 role alongside Apollo, the dog Greg Parker worked with after retiring from the department.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Dogs
Nashville Police Department K-9 Officer Greg Parker is retiring after 21 years with the department. Officer Rebecca Castleman is stepping into the K-9 role this month alongside Parker's current partner, a dog named Apollo.
Why it matters
For Nashville families, this is a routine staffing change in a city public safety program, with the K-9 unit continuing under a new handler. Nashville residents who follow the department's canine work will see continuity as Castleman takes over with an existing dog already trained in the unit.
Greg Parker, a Nashville Police Department K-9 officer, retires after 21 years of service. Rebecca Castleman takes over the K-9 position with Apollo, who is Parker's current partner.
The players
Nashville Police Department
The municipal police agency serving Nashville, which runs the city's K-9 unit that trains and deploys police dogs with their handlers.
Greg Parker
Retiring Nashville Police Department K-9 officer who spent 21 years with the department and worked with dogs Rico and Apollo.
Rebecca Castleman
Nashville Police Department officer assuming the K-9 role with Apollo following Parker's retirement.
The details
Parker's first K-9 dog was named Rico, and he has since worked with Apollo. Castleman will take over the K-9 role alongside Apollo and plans to build a bond with the dog similar to the one Parker developed with him. Castleman is preparing to begin the next chapter of the department's K-9 program with Apollo as her partner.
Timeline
November 2026: Castleman steps into the K-9 role this month.
The Home Front
Police K-9 units operate as a standing public safety program in cities like Nashville, with handler and dog pairs typically kept together over a working career. This reassignment keeps Apollo in service rather than requiring a new dog to be trained for the position.
If you follow Nashville Police Department news, expect Castleman to be the public-facing K-9 handler going forward. No household action is required, though residents who want to learn about the program can contact the department directly.
The takeaway
Continuity in police K-9 units depends on the handler and dog bond, which is why this handoff keeps Apollo in place rather than starting over. Nashville residents interested in the program can follow Nashville Police Department announcements for future updates.
Further reading
For more on how working dogs and their handlers fit into local life, see Dogs coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Southwest Arkansas Radio.
