POLICE looking for a man wearing an ankle bracelet at the wrong residence end up shooting and killing a family’s pet dog Sunday (dog pictured here with his family previously).
By KEILE CAMPBELL
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
DEPUTY Commissioner of Police Leamond Delevaux said he and police Commissioner Clayton Fernander are “true believers” in animal rights and urged the public not to jump to conclusions before police finish investigating a recent dog killing incident.
Police were looking for a man who reportedly tried to remove his ankle bracelet when they shot and killed a family’s dog in Kemp Road.
The incident incensed the public, especially after the owners said police failed to apologise and show remorse.
DCP Delevaux said Chief Superintendent Marlon Fulford, the officer in charge of the complaints and corruption branch, is leading the investigation. He insisted the public will be “advised and informed” about the matter when the investigation is done.
“I ask the public not to rush to judgment as this is an ongoing investigation –– the public will hear from us,” he said.
Yesterday, Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness (BAARK) vice president Lissa McCombe-Pinder expressed “deep concern and frustration regarding the apparent lack of accountability” by police.
“It is disheartening to witness the reoccurring instances where accountability is either avoided or overlooked, despite all of the clear expectations from the animal rights groups and the public,” she told The Tribune.
“I would hope that there are immediate steps taken to address this issue and promote accountability.”
Tiana Ferguson, 21, said police showed up at her two-storey apartment complex in Kemp Road on Sunday looking for someone with an ankle bracelet.
When she opened the door to two men in camouflage uniforms, her dog, Milo, went outside.
“My dog went towards one of the police, and I tried to grab the dog back,” she said. “I was like inches away from the dog. I heard two shots. My dog was down, and I was crying.”
Comments
ThisIsOurs 6 months ago
Theres nothing to jump to conclusions on. It was the wrong apartment. The young lady clearly didnt order her dog to attack. The dog either moved toward the officers because it was curious or it was in an aggressive posture. The officer felt threatened and did what was natural, defended himself from a breed of dogs thought to be dangerous. I dont fault the officer for trying to defend himself.
What Mrs McCombe Pinder is saying is, all of that could have been avoided if officers were trained in proper protocols for interaction with household animals. (And while they're at it, regular citizens).
The officers should not have had to encounter the dog at all. Likely the first thing they should have done was ask if there were animals inside then allow the owner time to secure the dog. If after all that was done and the dog still came into proximity with the officer he would have been more than justified to defend himself. But none of it was done, that's the advocate's point.
And of course some remorse would have been nice, I dont think it makes them any less likely to face litigation and damages
pablojay 6 months ago
I am a dog lover myself and it is truly a sad incident, which may have had a different outcome if the dog's owner had taken a more responsible position in this situation. An unleashed pitbull was advancing toward the officer and the owner said that she was trying to grab him back when he was shot. This suggested to me that he was approaching in an aggressive manner and we all now how difficult it is to stop a pitbull attack. Why did she not either put her dog away or put it on a leash before she opened her door?
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