A retired East Hartford police dog died on Sunday, two years after retiring from the department.
“K-9 Officer Axel (ret.) … was a dedicated, courageous, and decorated officer, and during his eight years of service made many friends in the EHPD and around the community,” a statement from East Hartford Police says.
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Axel retired in March 2015 after serving alongside Officer John Zavalick and lived the rest of his days with the Zavalick family.
“(Axel) will be dearly missed by all of us and by his handler, Officer John Zavalick, with whom he lived after his retirement in 2015,” the statement from East Hartford Police says.