They're headed home!
K9 Aksel is all smiles—and kisses—as he reunites with his partner, Officer Reese Harper, following surgery for a serious leg injury. They’re headed home. Their bond goes beyond the badge—it’s loyalty, trust, and a whole lot of heart. More to come! - Mt. Juliet Police Department (official)
Here's the backstory of what took place that seriously injured the beloved police K9, Aksel:
On April 23, "Mt. Juliet Police Officer Reese Harper and his K9 partner, Aksel (“Axel”), were involved in a crash while responding emergency to a reported domestic-related shooting-in-progress.
As Officer Harper was traveling northbound on N. Mt. Juliet Road with lights, standard siren, and enhanced rumbler siren activated, he entered the intersection at Old Lebanon Dirt Road. A juvenile motorist, who initially stopped, then unexpectedly accelerated into the intersection, striking the patrol vehicle on the driver’s side rear wheel area as the officer was proceeding through with right-of-way under emergency conditions. The impact caused disabling damage and a loss of steering control, leading the patrol vehicle to strike the rear of a pickup truck that had safely pulled over to yield to the emergency vehicle.
Officer Harper was not injured, though the collision initially trapped him in the vehicle due to the damaged driver’s door. He was able to safely exit through the passenger side. Officer Harper immediately checked on K9 Aksel, who had sustained a serious leg injury. K9 Aksel was transported quickly to Avenue Animal Hospital, where his injury was stabilized before being transferred for emergency surgery at a specialized Middle Tennessee veterinary facility." - Mt. Juliet Police Department (official)
Kids and community show their support and caring. Below is young Harper, who wanted to encourage his local police.
"We were genuinely moved when Hunter stopped by with a hand-made card for K9 Aksel and Officer Harper this afternoon. It really meant a lot, and Ofc. Schmid proudly accepted the card and ensured Hunter knew we appreciated his kindness. Moments like this remind us that even in the tough times, we’ve got an incredible community behind us. These small acts of kindness lift spirits more than you know, and we’ll make sure every single one reaches the team."
"We’ve heard that many of our youngest community members are thinking about K9 Aksel and want to show their support for him and Officer Harper, and that truly warms our hearts. So, we’ve created a special Hero Paws coloring page just for them! If you’ve got a little artist at home—or a whole classroom full of kiddos—who want to send some encouragement, have them color their best version of Hero Paws and drop it off at Police Headquarters anytime at 1019 Charlie Daniels Parkway. These thoughtful messages mean the world to our team—and we’ll make sure Officer Harper and Aksel see every one of them!"
And there's more community love pouring into Mt. Juliet police headquarters. Update: