Former Police K-9 Dies After Battling Heart Failure

MILTON, GA -- One of the original officers who served with the Milton Police Department passed away over the weekend.

K-9 officer DaSilva died Friday, April 21 following a battle with heart failure.

DaSilva joined the Milton Police Department in November 2007, just a few months after the agency began protecting the streets of the newly incorporated city.

DaSilva, who was 13 at the time of his death, worked side by side with handler, former officer Brian Kiel. He was medically retired at the age of eight in 2012 after patrolling Milton for five years. Kiel cared for DaSilva up until his death.

• Sign up for the Alpharetta-Milton Patch newsletter!

The city's police department, which said it was "heartbroken" by the news on its Facebook page, hasn't revealed any memorial services planned for DaSilva.

Kiel, now a former police sergeant, expressed gratefulness for the community's support on the city's Facebook page, adding DaSilva loved his job of protecting the public.

"From the minute we hit Crabapple Road to the last call every day, he always knew his job and his city," he added. "Thank you for the tremendous outpouring of support."

Images via city of Milton