Police dog Bosun has one final outing before retiring to receive the Australian Defence Force Service Medal
THE Gold Coast's most famous police pooch has officially turned in his badge and leash, bringing down the curtain down on an eventful career.
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THE Gold Coast's most famous police pooch has officially turned in his badge and leash, bringing down the curtain down on an eventful eight-year career.
German shepherd Bosun, who caught the alleged killers of Senior-Constable Damian Leeding in 2011, had one final outing before his retirement began yesterday when he received the Australian Defence Force Service Medal.
The medal was granted to Bosun and his long-time handler and companion, Senior Constable Wayne Algie for his long and eventful career which ended with one last collar in June when he took part in the arrest of a violent bikie.
Bosun will now live out his days at home with Sen-Const Algie, who said he was proud of his companion and never had doubts about his skills.
"This dog has done everything I have asked of it and more and I could not be more proud of him," he said.
"He is adopting to retirement pretty quickly and has no plans to write any memoirs of his eventful career.
"This was his last outing and now he will probably chill out until the end because at eight years of age he has lived such a long and hard life.
"We have been through a lot together and he is the kind of dog you can rely on and some of the jobs we have worked on could not have been done with a lesser dog.
"Not every dog is equal."
A second medal was awarded to Sen-Const Algie's other dog Jinx, who also served as a police until his death in 2008.
The awards were given at a ceremony held at the war animals memorial at Robina by the Gold Coast City Council.
Other awards on Bosun's shelf are the German Shepherd Council of Australia 's National Award for Outstanding Service and the Queensland German Shepherd Council's State Award for Outstanding Service.
Australian Defence Force Trackers and War Dogs Association secretary John Quane said Bosun was a "highly deserving" dog
"This medal gives him due recognition for what he did for the police force and the greater community," he said.
"Bosun is a highly deserving reception and we salute his service."