FALLEN COMRADE

LEESVILLE, La. - The Leesville Police Department laid to rest one of its
finest Tuesday in a solemn ceremony near the Department's shooting range and
training ground.

A bitter, sleet-laden wind and a mournful rendition of "Taps" marked
the passing of Chip, the Department's first K-9, and a trailblazer as
far as K-9 law enforcement in this area is concerned, according to
Deputy Chief of Police Tom Scott in his eulogy of the dog.

"Chip was the first, folks," Scott told those gathered to pay their
final respects. "Here's where the legacy began. This was the
trailblazer."

Chip joined the Leesville Police Department in January 1997, Scott
said, and served the Leesville and Vernon Parish communities for eight
years, for which he received a Meritorious Service Award.

The dog assisted in removing thousands of dollars of illegal narcotics
from the streets of central Louisiana, Scott said. In addition, the
K-9 was called to assist in similar operations in Missouri, Arkansas
and Mississippi. Chip's work led to the arrest of many felons and the
seizure of about $50,000 in currency.

Chip, a Belgian Malinois, passed away on December 15 after a long
struggle with illness, Scott said.

"He was an intricate part of our workings with other agencies," Scott
added. "He's one of us."

Chip's only handler and owner, Sylvester Denmond, with whom Chip
lived, said goodbye to not only his co-worker, but his buddy Tuesday.

The two began their service with the Leesville Police Department
within a year of one another, after Denmond, following his dream,
purchased Chip from a former law enforcement officer who'd had prior
K-9 military training.

Then, with the blessing of Leesville Chief of Police Bobby Hickman,
Denmond and Chip attended a 12-week K-9 school where they learned the
basics of obedience, narcotics detection, felony apprehension,
tracking and article recovery.

From there, Denmond and Chip's service to the Department blossomed,
with the duo making trips out of state to assist in highway
interdiction or visiting schools for demonstrations. Chip also
assisted on cases for the Vernon Parish Narcotics Task Force, the New
Llano Police Department the Louisiana State Police and the Sabine
Parish Sheriff's Office, Denmond said.

"For me, he broke the ground and allowed me to pursue my career as a
K-9 handler in law enforcement," Denmond said, recalling a trip to
Missouri where the two assisted in highway interdiction. There, Chip
alerted on the rear of a vehicle where officers later found $20,000
worth of marijuana.

"He liked to go to work," Demond said of Chip, recalling how the dog
would become immediately alert at the sound of the velcro latch on his
master's gun or vest and then pace the house until it was time to go.

And if Demond released Chip into a parking lot, he'd find a Crown
Victoria with an open door, unlatch it and then jump inside, ready to
go.

A tennis ball was Chip's simple reward for all that hard work, Denmond
said.

Aside from their professional relationship, the two were also friends,
Denmond said.

"I talked to him just like I talk to a person," he said. "You have to
be just as loyal to the K-9 as the K-9 is to you."

Even down to the end, Chip wanted to go to work, Denmond said,
remembering the dog's last moments.

"If he could by anyway go to work, he would do it," the officer
said.

Chip's contribution to the area did not go unnoticed, said Denmond,
who noted that many stepped forward to offer their support after Chip
passed away, including Denmond's loved ones, fellow officers and the
community.

Baggs Floors, Fence and Monuments donated the monument for Chips
grave, and the Beauregard Sheriff's Office donated the wood which
Vernon Parish Sheriff's Deputy Noel Yates used to construct the fallen
K-9's casket.