K9 Vic – Thibodaux, Louisiana

Died – 9/5/21

1ST Handler – Lt. Eddie Rodrigue III

2nd Handler – Sgt. Leonard Firmin Jr. 

Thibodaux Police Department mourns loss of retired police K-9 Vic

The Thibodaux Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its retired K-9s. Retired police K-9 Vic died Sunday night. K-9 Vic joined the Thibodaux Police Department in January 2013. After nearly eight years of service to the police department, K-9 Vic retired in December 2020. During his career, Vic worked with two handlers, Former Lt. Eddie Rodrigue III and Sgt. Leonard Firmin Jr. The police department said K-9 Vic helped in the apprehension of numerous high-profile suspects and the seizure of illegal narcotics, U.S. currency and illegally possessed firearms. “K-9 Vic will be deeply missed by our agency, the T.P.D. family and the Firmin family who continued to care for K-9 Vic after retirement. R.I.P. Vic and thank you for your service,” the Thibodaux Police Department wrote on Facebook.

Submitted By Jim Cortina

James A. Cortina has been involved with police dogs since 1972 and currently on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Jim has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991. Jim is one of the charter members of the C.P.W.D.A. organization. Since 1975 he has been a certified professional dog trainer and received his Master Trainer Certification in 1985. During his career he has provided armed K-9 strike crowd control for security agencies in Connecticut and out of state security companies. In conjunction with other members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Board of Directors, he helped to draft Connecticut Statute 53-247(e) "Intentional Injury or Killing of Police K-9" which was passed by the Senate in 1993 and also assisted in implementing the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award in 1992. In 1993 he helped coordinate the North American Police Work Dog Association Nationals in New London, Connecticut. He was appointed Training Director for the New London County Work Dog Association from 1985-1987. He performed decoy work for Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. in police K-9 demonstrations, trained several local police department canines, and coordinated training workshops for out-of-state police departments. He participated in the United States Police K-9 Association Trials in Croton on Hudson, New York in 1985 as a decoy. He is an avid photographer and received photography awards in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and currently takes photographs for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc.