MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/CNN) – A surveillance video reportedly shows a Minneapolis Police officer shooting two dogs during a burglary call, but the police report has a different account from the video.
Homeowner Jennifer LeMay says her security cameras captured what a police officer did to the family pit bulls, which she says are service animals.
"The shot was fired. Cirroc wasn't even charging at him. Rocco came running out of my side door, and they hit Rocco three to four times,” LeMay said.
The shooting took place Saturday night after the home alarm system was accidentally tripped by LeMay’s daughter. LeMay says she called to cancel the alert.
Police say they arrived and noticed the back door open, so they entered the property to investigate.
Video posted to Facebook by LeMay Sunday shows one of the pit bulls approaching the officer in the fenced-in backyard. The officer then appears to fire his gun. The other dog runs at the officer, and he fires the gun again.
The officer claims the dogs charged at him.
LeMay says the officer shot one of her dogs in the face and the other multiple times. Both animals are expected to survive; although the dog that was shot in the face suffered a broken jaw.
In a statement released Monday, Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau says she asked for an Internal Affairs use of force review and will be implementing updated mandatory training on dog encounters.
“I’ve watched the video, and as someone whose family has included dogs most of my life, I can say that it was difficult to watch. This was an outcome that no one wanted,” Harteau said in the statement.
Harteau also says the department will be reaching out to LeMay to help with the dogs’ veterinary bills.
Copyright 2017 WCCO, Jennifer LeMay, Kirtrina Jones via CNN. All rights reserved.
