An Austell police dog who was shot in the line of duty may soon be trading chasing suspects for chasing his tail, officials said.
K-9 Officer Jerry Lee will begin a “very spoiled retirement” after he was shot and seriously injured while chasing a suspect Sunday in Douglas County.
“We are just trying to make sure he is resting and comfortable for the next little bit,” Austell police Deputy Chief Natalie Poulk told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But we have plans to do something very special to honor our hero!”
Jerry Lee was rushed to the Blue Pearl Animal Hospital in Sandy Springs shortly after the shooting, the GBI previously said. He was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon, wearing a blue cast from paw to shoulder as he pranced to meet his handler.
“Ofc. Reeves is so glad to have his partner going home! Jerry Lee has a long, hard road to go but so happy to see his person,” the Austell Police Department said in a Facebook post.
The suspect, 24-year-old Dequan Cortez Glenn, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the incident, which began just before 2 a.m. in the area of I-20 and Douglas Boulevard, the GBI said.
While at a safety checkpoint, Douglasville police spotted a car “attempting to avoid law enforcement” and began following it. The car’s driver, later identified as Glenn, got out of the vehicle and started running, the GBI said.
That’s when Douglasville police asked the Austell department to bring their K-9 to the area.
The police dog began searching for Glenn, authorities said.
“During the search, the man was found and gunfire was exchanged with an Austell PD officer,” the GBI said.
Jerry Lee was hit once in his front leg. His handler, Officer E. Reeves, told Channel 2 Action News he dragged the dog to safety after he was hit.
“My first thing was his safety. I got to him and drug him back behind cover, drug him over a hundred feet to get him behind a pole,” Reeves said. “He took a round for me. He saved my life that night.”
Doctors performed surgery on Jerry Lee and were able to avoid amputating his leg. Austell police said it was a “tricky procedure,” and they are praying for a full recovery.
The Georgia Police K9 Foundation created a fund to help cover the treatment costs. Jerry Lee will continue to live with Reeves during his retirement.
“He’s more than a partner. He’s family to me. He’s family to my family,” Reeves said.
About the Author
