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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> !7 " ` LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> 'p P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> (225)219-5600 <br /> w � FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> __.. 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.Ia.gov <br /> Tuesday,November 10,2020 <br /> Thomas S.Schneidau <br /> The Office of the City Attorney <br /> The City of Slidell <br /> P.O.Box 828 <br /> Slidell,Louisiana 70459-0828 <br /> Re: Louisiana Board of Ethics <br /> Docket No.2020-707 <br /> Dear Mr.Schneidau: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics ("Board"),at its November 6, 2020 meeting,considered your <br /> request for an advisory opinion as to whether the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics <br /> ("Code") would prohibit the City of Slidell, through the Slidell Police Department ("SPD"), <br /> from placing retired K9 officers with their SPD handler or other sufficiently trained law <br /> enforcement employees of the SPD. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> The SPD owns a number of highly trained K9 officers that work with specially trained <br /> (human) SPD officers in various law enforcement activities,including in narcotics detection <br /> and suspect apprehension. During their career, K9 officers remain in the custody of their <br /> handler,the K9 officer's human partner and an employee of the SPD. Upon retirement of the <br /> SPD K9 officer from active service,the SPD desires that the retired K9 officer live out its life <br /> with its handler or another adequately trained SPD law enforcement member. The SPD has <br /> inquired as to whether the Code would prohibit the handler or other SPD employee from <br /> receiving ownership of a retired K9 officer through action, private purchase, donation, or <br /> other means of disposition by the SPD. <br /> LAW <br /> La.R.S.42:1111(A)prohibits a public employee from receiving anything of economic value, <br /> other than compensation and benefits from the governmental entity to which he is duly <br /> entitled,for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of his office or position. <br /> CONCLUSION <br /> The Board concluded, and instructed me to inform you, that based on the facts presented, <br /> current SPD employees would not be prohibited from receiving the retired K9 officer through <br /> donation or other SPD disposition as long as it is the SPD's policy that the current SPD <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />