LISTEN: The Georgia Tech University police department honored a fallen officer today — a German Shepherd named Pepper. GPB's Sofi Gratas reports.

A Georgia Tech police officer holds a pamphlet at a memorial of Pepper, a member of the Georgia Tech Police Department's K9 unit who died in late October 2025.

A Georgia Tech police officer holds a pamphlet at a memorial of Pepper, a member of the Georgia Tech Police Department's K-9 unit who died in late October 2025.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

The Georgia Institute of Technology's police department honored a fallen officer today — a German shepherd named Pepper.  

Pepper was a bomb-sniffing security dog who worked for eight years with the Georgia Tech Police Department.  

The memorial took place on Georgia Tech's Tower Lawn. Members of the campus police department as well as officers from other Atlanta campuses were in attendance. 

Her owner and handler at work, Sgt. Manuel Blair, describes Pepper as diligent and focused. He remembers slipping and falling near a bridge during a patrol with Pepper, and watching on as the dog kept going without interruption.  

“Because that just — that's what her whole thing is, she wants to work,” Blair said.  

"And then she's totally different at home," he said. "She's calm, she's relaxed."

Pepper was 10 years old when she died from natural causes on Oct. 25, 2025.  

A traditional flag folding in honor of Pepper, a member of the Georgia Tech Police Department's K9 unit, who died in October 2025.

A traditional flag folding in honor of Pepper, a member of the Georgia Tech Police Department's K-9 unit, who died in October 2025.

Credit: Sofi Gratas/GPB News

"She was like my child in a sense, but also my best friend," Blair said. "Spent a lot of time with her. I spent more time with her than I did my actual family."

Dogs in the Georgia Tech K-9 unit are certified through the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.  

As a member of the Georgia Tech K-9 unit, Pepper was honored on campus Wednesday with a procession, a presentation of the U.S. Flag, and a traditional last call for fallen peace officers.  

Rob Turner, former lead instructor of the Georgia Tech K-9 unit, said Pepper was the last dog he selected before leaving the role. She was about a year old when she was selected for the K-9 unit.  

He gave remarks at the memorial.  

“There is no purer heart than that of a police K-9,” Turner said. “From the moment they enter this world to the moment they close their eyes for the final time, their motives are pure.” 

Pepper leaves behind three other K-9 dogs at Georgia Tech. 

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