GRPD K-9 Eli

On November 14, Grand Rapids Police K9 Eli was stabbed multiple times in the line of duty. Eli required hours of emergency surgery to repair the damage, which included a punctured lung.

The Grand Rapids Police Department had been engaged in an hours-long standoff with a barricaded suspect when the decision was made to send in K9 Eli. While this was a difficult decision, the armed suspect, who had been shooting inside and outside the house, was showing no signs of surrender. Choosing to use a police K9 was a less lethal way to gain control and officers were able to take the suspect into custody without the use of deadly force or harm to officers or others. In addition to multiple other felony charges, the suspect was charged with causing serious injury to a police animal.

Thousands of people from our community and across the country have been following Eli’s recovery. Many have asked how they can support Eli, his human partner, Officer Justin Kribs, and GRPD’s K9 Unit. This GoFundMe was created as an easy option for those wishing to make donations. The Grand Rapids Police Foundation has a dedicated fund earmarked for K9 protective equipment, training equipment, and other resources to keep our officers and our K9s safe as they in turn, keep our community safe.

GRPD currently has eight K9 teams. All are trained in patrol functions and either an explosives or narcotics scent specialty. Four of the teams are trained to be tactical K9 teams and work directly with the Special Response Team on critical incidents, like the standoff in which Eli was injured. All donations will be used to directly support the work of the GRPD K9 Unit.