The only K-9 Officer serving the Port Neches Police Department kept the Texas community safe for eight years and is retiring.
Sergeant Eric Heilman worked as Officer Rico’s handler for seven years. The pair helped maintain law and order during that time and were committed to the task, 12 News reported Thursday.
“But there’s no better feeling than when somebody’s trying to get away and you use a living breathing thing to go find it,” Heilman explained.
The department announced Officer Rico’s retirement in a social media post on Wednesday, saying the time had finally come.
“Our K9 Officer, RICO, is retiring after 8 years of service with the Port Neches Police Department. We are sad to see him hang up his harness, but his retirement is well deserved!” the department continued:
“Rico’s retirement will be made official at tomorrow’s 4:00pm City Council meeting, after which we will have a recognition ceremony for him at the station,” the agency stated.
Social media users congratulated the K-9 on achieving his goal, one person writing, “Enjoy retirement Officer Rico!”
“Congratulations, Rico! You make us proud!” another commented.
During his time with the department, Officer Rico was deployed 114 times, nabbed nearly 8,000 grams of meth, and retrieved over $450,000, per the 12 News report.
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