Fiji Corrections bids farewell to K9 Richie

The Fiji Corrections Service has paid tribute to one of its most loyal and dedicated members, K9 Richie, at a ceremony held at the Naboro K9 Memorial Site.

Officers, handlers, and staff gathered to honour the dog’s life and contributions to the Service.

K9 Richie, a Labrador retriever, was the first Passive Alert Drug Detection (PADD) dog in the Fiji Corrections Service and was trained under the Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) programme in Brisbane, Australia.

Happier days...K9 Richie

Photo: Supplied

Handled by Corrections Officer Class A Nikolau Luveicei, Richie enlisted on January 27, 2020 and served across all divisions and corrections centres in Fiji.

His duties included visitor searches, dormitory and cell clearances, vehicle and bag inspections, and mail screening, significantly enhancing drug detection and facility security.

Born on April 23, 2016, K9 Richie retired on August 27, 2025 after more than five years of service and passed away shortly after from a gastrointestinal disease.

The FCS acknowledged his invaluable contributions, describing him as a symbol of dedication, courage, and the strong bond between handlers and their K9 partners.

Feedback: maikeli.vesikula@fijisun.com.fj