Celebrated dog squad officer farewells force
IT is a beautiful day on the Gold Coast. Blue skies, mild weather and the sound of the ocean can be heard off into the distance.
Closer though is the sound of German shepherds barking. They sit in the back of the police wagons, on edge. They’re ready to perform the task they were trained for since birth.
And sitting around in the car park of The Spit are members of the Gold Coast dog squad. The men who are often the point of the spear when it comes to tracking down and apprehending dangerous criminals.
Although on this magnificent Tuesday afternoon they’re sitting around sledging each other in a way only close mates can. It’s lighthearted fun among a group of men which knows it is losing an integral part of the team.
Senior Constable Wayne Algie is set to hang up his gun belt and, along with current dog Rex, retire to Evans Head to work his farm and train future police dogs.
“I was 37 when I joined. I had spent years in the Whitsundays sailing yachts and working night clubs. There’s no money in it, but I was having a ball,” Sen-Constable Algie said.
“Joining the police was something I always wanted to do. I thought I was too old, I thought I’d missed the boat, but a friend said get into it.
“I started in Ipswich in 1996, I did five-and-a-half years there. I then got into the dog squad and have been on the Gold Coast since.
“It was a job I thought I’d go to work and do something different everyday. And I was right. I never got up in the morning and thought I didn’t want to go to work.
“Lot of water under the bridge in those 16 years.”
He was right. No two days and none of the dogs he worked with were the same.
Tears well in his eyes when he talks about his career and the dogs he says he was lucky enough to be in their lives.
A decorated career for the Senior Constable who, along with legendary police dog Bosun, caught Damien Leeding’s killer and was involved in a number of other highprofile jobs with his other dogs Jinx and Rex.
“I think the first six years there was only four of us here. We were flat out, going from job to job to job. I was lucky to have a very good dog in Jinx during those six years. He caught me a lot of people.
“I was then lucky to have another dog, who I bought, trained up and sold to the service in Bosun and I think everyone knows his story. His story is my story.
“We were involved in some big jobs. We had the great chase that made front pages and we were also involved in the death of Damien Leeding.
“We were also involved in an incident down in Southport, where a guy was firing a shotgun at a cabbie. We boxed on for five minutes, me, him and Bosun. He brought him down, well we both brought him down. I was getting a bit old in the tooth when that one came around.
“The last two-and-a-half years I’ve had Rex. I think you can tell by the joking, he is what he is. He’s an angry dog, he’s great for doing raids and things, but not much of a tracking dog.
“I’ve done so many jobs, I’ve lost track.”
There are no regrets for the character with a massive smile, who has dedicated his policing career to dogs.
“We in the dog squad have the best job in policing. We’re lucky enough to get paid to play with dogs. We are doing what we love and you can’t get a better partner than a good dog. They’ll always back you up.
“You love your dogs, each one I’ve had, even old Rexy, you can’t help but love them. At the end of the day I know they’ll protect me.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with some great guys. I love being at the pointy end, I love the adrenaline and the dog squad allows you to do that.”
Inching closer to 60 and with a bung knee, SenConstable Algie said it’s time.
“It’s a double-edged sword leaving. I’ve done 22 years on the frontline, at the pointy end. That’s a long time.
“There are coppers who have done longer than me and I feel sorry for them.
“It wears you out. I know I’m carrying baggage after 22 years. And I’m sure there are guys who have done longer than me would be the same.
“You can’t help but pick up baggage, dealing with what we have to deal with, I think I’m getting out at a good time.
“I think if I had to go another 10 years, I think it would be too long.”
His love of man’s best friend will continue when he sounds the siren for the last time, he’ll continue to breed dogs for policing.
“I’ve got a farm down Evans Head way. I’m going to be breeding and working on shepherds and raising cattle.
“I’m retiring from this job, not from life. Once I get this knee fixed, I’ll be right.”