Mt. Juliet K-9 Aksel Injured in Crash

A newly appointed Mt. Juliet Police Department K-9, Aksel, a one-year-old Belgian Malinois and Shepherd mix, was seriously injured in a crash on Wednesday while responding with Officer Reese Harper to a domestic-related shooting. The collision occurred at the intersection of North Mt. Juliet Road and Old Lebanon Dirt Road when a teen driver, who had initially stopped, suddenly accelerated into the intersection and struck the patrol vehicle, causing it to lose control and hit a pickup truck. Officer Harper was briefly trapped but escaped unharmed, while Aksel suffered a severe leg injury and was rushed to Avenue Animal Hospital, then transferred for emergency surgery at a specialized Middle Tennessee veterinary facility. Aksel, who had excelled in training, was set for official certifications the following week. No other injuries were reported among the drivers involved, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The police department and community have expressed strong support for Aksel and Officer Harper as they await further updates on Aksel's condition.