GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Gwinnett County Police Department said Friday it is mourning the loss of a long-serving K-9 officer.
The department said in a post that K-9 Peper's end of watch was Feb. 25. The officer was "a dedicated member who made significant contributions," GCPD said.
"During her service, she handled 206 calls, made 41 apprehensions, and found 32 evidence items. K9 Peper was a valuable asset and will be greatly missed," the post said.
In a release, GCPD said K-9 Peper had experienced an "unexpected illness."
"She had recently developed a mass near her heart, causing severe medical complications," the release said.
The release added:
Throughout her service, K9 Peper dutifully served the people of Gwinnett County, and her contributions will not be forgotten.
She was born on June 30, 2017, in Slovakia and underwent training at Tarheel Canine before joining our department on October 3, 2018, under the guidance of Cpl. Caleb Jefferson.
K9 Peper stepped into a new role for the SWAT Team following the untimely death of K9 Blue on September 10, 2020. Cpl. Jefferson and K9 Peper were a formidable due, tackling assignments across various cities in Gwinnett and collaborating with multiple federal agencies.
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