Beloved K-9 officer retires after 56 dog years of devoted service

A black Labrador named Boomer has been working with the National Park Service (NPS) for almost 10 years.

He was first recruited by the Chickasaw National Recreation (Oklahoma) Area in 2011, and later this month, the K-9 will move on to a new chapter in his life – retirement.

After being in service for 56 dog years, this K-9 officer is finally retiring. Police dogs are one of the most important members of law-enforcement.

They undergo intense training to assist police in their work. Their duties include locating missing person and, finding crime scene evidence. These dogs are heroes in their own right.

“He has been instrumental in helping detect illegal drugs in his home park, the local community, and on special assignment to other National Park Service units,” the NPS said in a news release about Boomer’s service.

Boomer has gathered extensive experience throughout his years in the force. He holds several certifications from the state of Oklahoma, the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association, and the American Police Canine Association, as well as other organizations and agencies.

Like every other “employee”, Boomer has a particular set of duties that he likes doing most. These include performing demonstrations for local schools and community groups.

“He also enjoyed working with his colleagues in the Murray County Sheriff’s Department, the Sulphur Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Davis Police Department, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation,” the NPS said.

The black Lab also loved “travelling to other areas to assist enforcement efforts at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Park, Wind Cave National Park, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, and Black Hills, Boise, and Challis National Forests.”

In the next few weeks, Boomer will be “training” his successor, K-9 Officer Rex, before he fully retires.

Now that his service is over, what is next for Boomer?

According to NPS, the dog will “spend more time with his family, receive as many belly rubs as he can guilt them into providing, chase squirrels, and continue to be a very good boy.”

This loyal K-9 deserves all those things and more. Thank you for a job well done, Officer Boomer. We wish you a very happy retirement!

In a related story, there’s another amazing dog who just started his career helping police officers.

Hansel the pit bull just made history as the first of its breed to graduate as an arson detection K9 officer, officially becoming a member of the Millville Fire Department in New Jersey after successfully finishing his training.

The four-year-old pup was rescued by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) in 2015 when he was just 7 weeks old.

Hansel, known for generously giving kisses and for his endless energy, trained with Throw Away Dogs for a year before enrolling in a K9 academy with his handler. After 16 weeks, the fresh graduate became a certified arson detection K9 officer for the Millville Fire Department. Read full story HERE.