The Brisbane Dog Squad, based in Oxley, is mourning the loss of retired Police Dog (PD) Leroy, a Labrador whose career blended forensic skill with gentle comfort. Leroy passed away peacefully of old age with his handler, Sergeant Darren Breuer, by his side.
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Born on 31 December 2012, Leroy was one of the last Labradors bred through the Queensland Police Service (QPS) program. He retired from operational duty in 2021 and spent his retirement living with Sergeant Breuer, who had been his handler since graduation. The closeness of their relationship, often described as hand to paw, was evident to colleagues and the public alike.
Leroy’s place in Queensland policing is unique. The QPS describes him as the state’s first dog trained to detect cash, firearms and drugs, a rare triple-specialist. Over his years in the Brisbane Dog Squad he located millions of dollars in illicit funds, recovered firearms and uncovered large quantities of illegal drugs. One memorable find cited by the service was a kilogram of cocaine that had been buried and concealed; such discoveries underline how detection dogs and handlers disrupt serious criminal activity.
His abilities were no accident. Leroy came from a line of working dogs: his grandfather PD Asco worked in drug detection and his father PD Pezz served as a bomb detection dog. His mother was Fern; PD Flipa, who was related to Fern, was an early kennel mate. In retirement he kept company with PD Turbo, his half-brother, and PD Ice, sharing early morning bush walks and the rhythms of life off-duty.
Leroy’s contribution to policing was matched by his softer role in the community. In retirement he became the QPS’s first comfort dog, visiting sick children in hospital and offering relief to officers in high-stress units such as communications and teams handling child-harm matters. He also appeared at community events — at Christmas he was affectionately known as “Santa Leroy” — showing how working dogs can be both operational assets and sources of calm for the public.
Those who cared for him recall little rituals that made retirement special. Each morning, often before dawn, he joined his kennel mates for a bush walk. He could be slow to climb into the van on dark winter mornings, but a cookie before the team set off was almost always enough incentive.
The QPS paid tribute to Leroy’s service and the comfort he offered throughout his life. The poem The Police Dog by Tim Beard — lines that speak to devotion and sacrifice — was shared in his honour and echoed the sentiments of handlers who have lost canine partners.
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Leroy’s story is one of skill, loyalty and companionship. His work helped keep people safer; his visits and presence helped keep officers and community members steadier. As colleagues and residents reflect on his passing, they remember not just the contraband and crime he helped uncover but the steady, reassuring presence he offered every day.
Published 30-September-2025
