COBB POLICE INVESTIGATE DEATH OF COBB K9

Acworth, GA (June 6, 2023): The Cobb County Police Department is investigating the death of a Cobb County Police K9 that occurred at Allatoona High School (3300 Dallas Acworth Highway, Acworth, GA, 30101) on Monday, June 5, 2023, just after 2 p.m.

Officers were attending scheduled active shooter training at the school when K9 Chase was found unresponsive in the patrol vehicle by K9 Officer Neill. Life-saving measures were started by Officer Neill, other Cobb Officers, and Cobb County Fire personnel (also attending the active shooter training); K9 Chase was then transported to a nearby emergency veterinarian clinic. But the efforts were not enough to save him, and he succumbed to his heat-related injuries.

Officers had been at training since 11 a.m. and had been checking on their K9 partners on the hour for 15-minute breaks between each 45-minute training session. At some point after the previous check, the air conditioning system malfunctioned in Officer Neill’s patrol vehicle. Preliminary information indicates that other safety systems did not properly activate, and the temperature quickly rose in the vehicle.

This is a horrible incident, and our investigators continue to gather information regarding the vehicle system failures that led to this tragedy. K9 Chase is currently at Cobb County Animal Shelter and will be transported to the University of Georgia for a necropsy later today.