WILSON, N.C. -- The Wilson Police Department is mourning the loss of one of their own Friday.

• K-9 unit Dakota died Friday.
• He had just finished his final shift before planned retirement.
• He was 12 years old. 

Dakota, a 12-year-old K-9 unit, served the Wilson Police Department for 11 years.

In a post Friday, the department shared that Dakota had worked his last shift and was on his way home with an officer when the officer noticed something wrong.

The officer took Dakota to the vet, where he unfortunately passed away.