A Mt. Juliet Police Department K-9 officer, Aksel, was injured on Wednesday afternoon when a teen driver collided with his patrol car. The incident occurred as Officer Reese Harper and Aksel were responding to a domestic shooting-in-progress with lights and sirens activated on North Mt. Juliet Road. At the intersection of N. Mt. Juliet Rd. and Old Lebanon Dirt Road, a teen driver, who had initially stopped, unexpectedly accelerated and struck the patrol vehicle on the driver's side rear wheel area.

K-9 Aksel sustained a serious leg injury and was immediately taken to Avenue Animal Hospital before being transferred to a specialized veterinary facility in Middle Tennessee for emergency surgery. Officer Harper was briefly trapped in the car due to the damage but managed to escape through the passenger side without injury. The patrol car, suffering “disabling damage,” lost steering control and subsequently hit a pickup truck that had pulled over to allow the officer to pass. The other drivers involved were evaluated at the scene, and no other injuries were reported. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is currently investigating the crash.

Meanwhile, officers did arrive at the scene of the domestic shooting where they discovered a man dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. K-9 Aksel, a new member of the MJPD, was scheduled to undergo his official certifications the following week.

In a separate incident on April 19, 2025, in the United States, Livestock Deputy Adame successfully wrangled a herd of loose goats on Southton Road near IH 37 after being alerted by multiple drivers. Deputy Adame located the owner of the goats, issued a warning, and reminded them to check gates and fences daily to prevent future incidents.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department expressed their support for Officer Harper and their hopes for K-9 Aksel's recovery, while also thanking Dr. Nicole Harris and the staff at Avenue Animal Hospital, along with the Mt. Juliet Fire Department, for their rapid care.