GRAYSON — The Gwinnett County Police Department is mourning the unexpected loss of one of its long-serving K-9 officers tonight.
In what police officials are calling “a tragic set of circumstances,” the Snellville Police had a suspect flee from them in the area of North Crestview Drive and Grayson Parkway in Grayson and ultimately requested the assistance of the Gwinnett County Police Department’s K-9 unit in tracking the suspect.
K-9 Eli and his handler, responded to assist, but about 30 minutes into tracking the suspect, K-9 Eli began to display signs of distress believed to be related to heat.
The K-9 was quickly removed from the scene and taken to a local veterinarian for evaluation and treatment.
Doctors attempted to treat K-9 Eli but he did not recover. Eli died shortly before 5 p.m.
K-9 Eli was 9 years old and has served the citizens of Gwinnett County for 8 years.
Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.
