By Mason Edwards
Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A Chattanooga Police Department K-9 was put down Wednesday after suffering severe leg injuries while helping a SWAT team earlier in the week, officials said.
Diesel, a 3-year-old German shepherd assigned to Officer Paul Winkelman, responded to a call Monday during which a person with multiple felony warrants was reported to be armed and holding a hostage, Police Department spokesperson Elisa Myzal said by email. The hostage was no longer inside by the time police arrived, but information suggested the hostage-taker was still inside.
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After hours of unsuccessful attempts to have the person surrender peacefully, Myzal said, officers deployed Diesel to do a security sweep inside the house and did not find anyone in the home, in the 3300 block of Fourth Avenue . Following training, Diesel then returned to the initial deployment entry point.
While in the home, he ran through large shards of glass causing severe lacerations and damage to both hind legs, including a severed artery and Achilles tendon, Myzal said.
Diesel’s handler noticed the bleeding and pulled the K-9 from the home. Diesel received care at the scene and was rushed for emergency surgery, but officials realized the dog would have a severely diminished quality of life, according to a press release. The animal was euthanized Wednesday morning after officials consulted with veterinary teams and the dog’s handler.
During the dog’s 17 months of service, he helped with multiple apprehensions and assisted SWAT, narcotics and gun teams on several operations. Earlier this year, he ranked second place during U.S. Police Canine Association regional K-9 trials, according to a press release.
Diesel joined the Police Department in April 2024 , the press release said, and was trained in patrol and narcotics detection. He was named with help from the family of Marine Sgt. Carson Holmquist, who was killed in a July 16, 2015, terrorist attack in Chattanooga.
This article, originally published on Sept. 17, has been updated to reflect K-9 Diesel was euthanized.
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