Retired Gwinnett Police K9 Dies After Battle With Spine Illness

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — After spending nearly seven years with Gwinnett County Police, and battling a spine illness for some time, former K9 officer Elsa has died, police said Monday.

Elsa, a Belgian Malinois, was put to rest Thursday, police said. The nature of the spine illness was not fully detailed.

She first joined the police department in November 2016. While on the police force, Elsa spent four years with handler Sgt. Dan Larsen and three years with handler Cpl. Austin Hylton, police said.

"K9 Officer Elsa consistently tracked down criminals and removed dangerous narcotics from the streets of Gwinnett County. Members of this department will greatly miss her," police said in a news release.

Elsa retired in October 2023, but before then, police said she spent her days helping with arrests and recovering evidence.

She completed 545 calls for service and participated in 51 patrol apprehensions, 87 narcotic apprehensions and 133 evidence recoveries, police said.

Memorial services were not immediately known Monday afternoon.