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SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department released bodycam footage showing what led up to a moment where an officer shot a dog after being bitten early Sunday morning.
The next day, a department spokesperson told FOX 13 News that that officer was wholly justified in doing so, in order to protect himself, his fellow officer, and the public.
According to a press release from SLCPD, the incident began around 3:15 a.m., when officers were called to a 7-Eleven at 1692 W. North Temple on reports of trespassing.
Once on scene, two officers encountered a large group of people in the parking lot and called for backup. When one officer approached the group, a dog on a leash began barking, then lunged at the officer and bit him.
Bodycam footage released by SLCPD shows the officer walking away from the scene, informing dispatch of the bite, before circling around the front of the store. He then sees the dog charge toward another officer. He yells at the officer to move out of the way, then aims his weapon and fires four shots.
The other officer's bodycam shows him approaching the dog and the woman holding it from another angle. He tells the woman to not let the dog go. The dog was then either released or broke free and then charged toward the second officer before being shot by the first officer.
The footage then shows a woman, presumably the dog's owner, attempting to approach the dog, before being restrained and taken to the ground by officers.
Salt Lake City Police say she was detained for her safety, and to preserve evidence. The dog was later euthanized by Salt Lake County Animal Services. SLCPD said they allowed the owner a private moment with the dog, and provided information on how to retrieve the remains before driving her home.
"Based on the information that we have, our officer acted appropriately," SLCPD spokesman Brent Weisberg said. "We certainly acknowledge the trauma, the difficultness that occurred here. This was a very difficult situation. Our officer had to make a very split-second decision, a very difficult decision, a decision that none of our officers want to be in. None of our officers want to be in the position of having to use deadly force against an animal."
Weisberg pointed out that ultimately, officers need to protect themselves and ensure that they return home safely.
"[The officer] had already been bitten by this dog once, and that officer could not have afforded to be bitten again," Weisberg said. "Our officer acted appropriately in this case to not only protect himself from being bitten again, but also protect the others who were in that parking lot, including community members."
Weisberg acknowledged that many residents have wondered if the officer could have used a non-lethal tool on the dog, like a taser.
"Even though our tasers can be used on animals, it's not the best-case scenario," he said. "These are very rapidly unfolding situations. Our tasers particularly require two probes to make contact with the subject — person or an animal — and so sometimes that may not be effective. If we have one probe that makes contact ... but the other doesn't, now we've set up our officer potentially to still get injured."
Weisberg said it's possible that the dog's owner may face charges, but they have not yet determined if that will happen.
"There needs to be some level of accountability for this individual who had this dog," he said.
Weisberg pointed out that it's a city ordinance to keep dogs under control — "unless you are in a dog park per se. This wasn't a dog park. That dog was supposed to be on a leash, and that did not happen in this case."
Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd issued the following statement:
“This is a difficult situation for everyone involved. I understand how people deeply care for their animals, and I recognize the pain this dog’s owner and those who knew this dog are experiencing. At the same time, our officers were faced with a dangerous and rapidly evolving situation. The officers were forced to make a difficult, split-second decision to protect themselves. None of our officers ever want to be placed in these types of situations but our priority will always be the safety of our officers and community.”
SLCPD spokesperson Brent Weisberg says they are conducting a standard use-of-force investigation into the incident. The injured officer was evaluated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The other officer involved remains on regular duty.
