DETROIT — Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton says he wants an investigation into why a dog was shot and killed in its own yard by a police officer.
Home surveillance video captured the of Aug. 3 incident in Detroit where a police officer used lethal force when a dog attacked a K-9 officer through a fence.
According to Detroit Free Press, the police officers had asked the homeowners to restrain their dog while police conducted a search for a weapon believed to have been tossed into a yard in the area. The homeowner secured the dog, but it escaped the owner’s hold while the search was being conducted on the other side of the fence.
Moments later the white dog, described by police as a pit bull, attacked the K-9 through the fence. The K-9 handler then shot the dog in the head, killing it.
Now that the video has circulated widely on social media, Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton says he wants an investigation into the incident.
“Should there be an investigation into what happened? Absolutely. I am outraged. I think the homeowner was responsible for having their dog in their backyard. I think this would have been preventable if only the officer had control of the K-9,” Burton told WDIV-TV.
Burton said he also wants a review of the officer’s training.
Police Commander Darin Szilagyi had a different perspective on the incident.
“Her partner was being attacked and we demand that our officers protect not only themselves but their partners and citizens. At this point it was a clear and present danger; her dog was being viciously harmed. t’s unfortunate it came to this, we don’t like to see any animal hurt,” Szilagyi told Detroit Free Press.
The K-9 officer has returned to work after receiving counseling, according to WDIV-TV.
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