Retired police chief finds a new partner in retired military dog rescued through Mission K9

WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Deb Brown thought retirement would be her chance to slow down after more than three decades in law enforcement.

Then a new best friend walked into her life.

Brown, a retired police chief and former West Monroe officer, adopted Fico, an 8-year-old retired military working dog, less than two months ago through Mission K9 Rescue. Their bond, she said, formed quickly.

“I sometimes watch him and think how honored I am to have him,” said Brown.

Fico served as an explosives detection dog and was deployed to Afghanistan, Brown said. His history is limited, but she knows he has seen combat — and carries a visible reminder.

“He lost his tail in a mission. It is a casualty of war,” Brown said.

Brown understands a life built around protecting others. She began her career in 1982 and became the first woman on patrol in West Monroe, she said, facing uncertainty and resistance as she worked to open doors for other women in law enforcement.

“I know that I wanted to be a trailblazer for women,” Brown said.

Her career eventually took her to Texas, where she served as a chief of police at what she described as the oldest university in the state. Over 33 years in law enforcement, she worked alongside two K-9s, experience that helped shape her retirement plan.

“I really thought that Mission K9 might be a cool thing to do because I could take an older dog and let him retire along with me,” Brown said.

Now, Fico has traded the front lines for what Brown calls “sofa patrol,” settling into home life in West Monroe. Brown said she still wonders what Fico might be dreaming about when he chases something in his sleep and what his full story would be if he could tell it.

“I wonder what he is chasing. I really wonder what his story would be,” she said.

Brown said she hopes to take Fico on trips around northeast Louisiana and, eventually, help more retired working dogs find homes.

“I’m hoping that we can get some of these retired dogs back and let them know love and let them know home,” Brown said. “And it’s my honor. It’s my honor.”

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