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If all you got at your retirement party was a plastic water bottle wrapped in a stuffed animal’s coat, you’d probably wonder what kind of outfit you’d been working for all those years. But, for Thibodaux Police K-9 Slider, the retirement present is his favorite thing in the whole world.
“We wondered what to get him for his retirement,” said department spokesman David Melancon as Slider shoved his nose into a brightly colored gift bag. “His favorite toy is a plastic water bottle, so we got him that, some treats and plaques to commemorate his service.”
Melancon was one of approximately 25 police officers on hand for the retirement ceremony, including Slider’s former handler and now-owner Lt. Chris Bourg. A number of community members also attended the event, including Thibodaux Mayor Tommy Eschete and Hope for Animals volunteers Ruth Chiasson and Gisele Landry.
“We would like to congratulate Slider on his retirement and give thanks to Slider, the force’s other police dogs and the policemen,” Chiasson said. “Thank you for your hard work.
“People do not realize the time that goes into training these animals,” the mayor said. “The work of these dogs sometimes goes unnoticed, but we notice.”
“Slider won’t be getting a pension, but he will be living the high life with Chris,” said Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii, laughing. “Slider’s statistics are important, but his dedication is more important. The training, well being and upkeep of these dogs is an investment in a wonderful resource.”
Eight-year-old Slider, a Belgian Malinois, was born in Hungary and has served the Thibodaux police force for the last five years, assisting with narcotics cases, apprehending criminals – as in biting fleeing suspects – and tracking and searching.
“We train the dogs here, and they do six to 10 months of training,” said Lt. Eddie Rodrigue, who also oversees Nitro and Swiper, the department’s two other K-9 dogs. “They are a real asset to the city.”
Slider proved his worth by placing at several regional patrol competitions and even took seventh place out of 300 dogs at a national event.
“Slider was good at narcotics,” Rodrigue added.
Slider’s career as a police dog includes he and Bourg’s $133,880 in narcotic seizures, which consists of more than $1,300 in weapons seizures, more than $35,000 in vehicle seizures, almost $39,000 in currency seizures and about $58,000 in narcotics seizures. Slider assisted the department with almost 300 narcotics searches and, of those 300 searches, 145 led to narcotics cases. The canine officer also helped to apprehend 38 suspects.
While Bourg will continue his vocation in the department’s patrol division, Slider’s stellar career is coming to a close at what is considered to be the normal retirement age for a K-9 officer.
“He had a slight stroke a while back while training, and we wanted to give him a chance to enjoy being retired,” Rodrigue said.
Even though Slider is no longer on the force, he won’t be far from his old place of employment – Bourg, his wife Helana and daughter Emily live in Thibodaux.
“We want to keep the dog in its comfort zone,” Melancon said. “We are all friendly with the dogs, but it is our preference that they are retired with their handler.”
Melancon recalled some of the dog’s more rousing off-duty antics.
“He loves those plastic bottles and, as disciplined as he is, if he sees a plastic water bottle on a table, you can see it in his eyes that he wants it,” Melancon said. “He once got out of his enclosure in a K-9 unit, got in the front seat and turned the patrol lights on, too.”
“He still wants to work,” Bourg said. “He comes out of his kennel like a spring chick.”
Slider will join the Bourg’s two other dogs, 7-month-old Reno, also a Belgian Malinois, and Sophie, a 4-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Emily Bourg, daughter of Thibodaux Police Department’s Lt. Chris Bourg, rubs of the belly of Slider, who was recently retired from the department’s K-9 Unit. Slider will live with the Bourgs.
