On Wednesday around 4:40 p.m., Mt. Juliet Police Officer Reese Harper and his K9 partner, Aksel, were involved in a crash while responding to a domestic-related shooting in progress.
Officer Harper was traveling northbound on North Mt. Juliet Road with emergency lights, standard siren, and enhanced rumbler siren activated when he entered the intersection at Old Lebanon Dirt Road. A juvenile driver, who had initially stopped, unexpectedly accelerated into the intersection and struck the patrol vehicle on the rear driver’s side wheel area.
The impact caused disabling damage and a loss of steering, resulting in the patrol vehicle colliding with the rear of a pickup truck that had pulled over to yield. Officer Harper was not injured but was briefly trapped due to a damaged driver’s side door. He exited through the passenger side and immediately checked on K9 Aksel, who had sustained a serious leg injury.
K9 Aksel was transported to Avenue Animal Hospital for stabilization and then transferred for emergency surgery at a specialized veterinary facility in Middle Tennessee.
K9 Aksel is the department’s newest K9 and was scheduled for official certification next week.
Other motorists involved were evaluated at the scene by medical personnel, with no additional medical transport required. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of the crash.
Officer Harper had been responding to a reported domestic-related incident on Oakhall Drive, where officers later discovered an adult male deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. That investigation remains ongoing.
“The department’s hearts and prayers go out to Officer Harper, and everyone is hoping for the best possible outcome for K9 Aksel as he undergoes emergency treatment. Additionally, were are extremely thankful for the initial rapid care from Dr. Nicole Harris and staff at Avenue Animal Hospital, including the men and women of the Mt. Juliet Fire Department. Several motorists and bystanders also stopped to help Officer Harper and K9 Aksel, and our department, including them, are very grateful for your compassion,” MJPD stated.
For those wishing to help specifically with the K9 program, a special donation link has been established here: https://donorbox.org/support-the-mjpd-k9-program.
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