Dog shot by police officer ‘is my life’: disabled owner
Canine officer feared Animal posed immediate danger, RPS says
Describing the shooting of his beloved dog Missty by police as one of the worst days of his life, Lance Murphy believes the Regina officer involved could have handled the situation differently, as the force continues to investigate exactly what happened.
“I don’t have anybody else. My dog is my life,” Lance Murphy said in an interview Thursday at the veterinarian office where Missty was receiving treatment.
The Regina Police Service (RPS) maintains the dog was shot by an officer who feared the animal posed an “immediate danger.”
“I don’t doubt for a moment that with her owner and family, the dog is seen as a loving, playful pet — but that was not how our experienced canine officer perceived the dog in the moments prior to the incident,” acting deputy police chief Corey Zaharuk told a news conference Thursday afternoon.
The shooting, which occurred over the lunch hour one day earlier, has prompted questions and criticisms on social media about the actions of the police officer as well as the owner, who allowed two dogs off-leash in an area not designated as an off-leash dog park.
The RPS has launched an internal investigation and spoken with the Murphy as well as other eyewitnesses, including civilians.
At about 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, Murphy, who is disabled and uses a cane, took his two dogs to an open field in the area near Rambler Park, in the west-central area of the city. Murphy, who can’t stand for long periods, prefers the location because he can let the dogs out and remain seated in his vehicle.
“Missty is a loving dog that only aims to please. She is basically a therapy dog to me and she is my everything,” he said. “It’s just the worst thing that could happen.”
Nearby, members of the RPS canine unit were preparing for a training session, when an officer — who did not have a dog with him — approached Murphy and the dogs.
Because the officers were in the process of setting up, signs alerting the public had not yet been erected.
“He didn’t wave at me, didn’t shout at me, he was just walking through the field approaching my dogs and myself,” Murphy said.
As the officer approached, Murphy said he tried to call his two dogs back to the vehicle. That’s when Missty, an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, moved toward the officer with a ball in her mouth, he stated.
“The officer at this time was about 40 feet away from me. He proceeded to draw his gun, and he still had not said anything before opening fire at my dog,” which was then about two to five feet away from the officer, according to Murphy.
But the RPS says the officer reacted as he did because of a perceived imminent threat, and couldn’t confirm or refute Murphy’s version while an investigation continues. Police are unaware, at this point, if any video evidence exists.
According to Zaharuk, the officer had a verbal exchange with Murphy prior to the shooting and asked him to put his dogs on a leash or take them elsewhere.
He said the officer did not immediately feel he was in danger, but that changed as Murphy continued to summon the dogs and they didn’t listen.
“The officer began sensing very troubling behaviour from one of the dogs, who appeared to him to be assuming an aggressive posture and circling him,” said Zaharuk. “The officer felt that the dogs actions were consistent with preparing to attack him.”
Fearing the dog’s behaviour was escalating to a point where he would be seriously injured, the officer drew his pistol and fired two shots, said Zaharuk. One bullet hit the dog in the shoulder.
Murphy remembers the situation differently, saying Missty isn’t aggressive and often hangs out with his toddler-aged grandkids.
“My dog wasn’t barking or jumping or growling at (the officer),” he said. “She had the ball and she was running around his feet. “It just should not have happened.”
Murphy believes the officer had other options — driving his vehicle close enough to talk without being exposed to the dogs; shouting or waving from a distance; deploying pepper spray or a Taser; or even yelling at or kicking Missty.
Zaharuk noted police are allowed to use lethal force when there is a perceived threat of bodily harm or death — and whether or not it was justified in this case will be part of the investigation. According to Murphy ’s son, the dog left the vet’s office Thursday afternoon, but must return Saturday for further surgery. He said the risk of Missty losing a leg hasn’t been ruled out.
According to Zaharuk, the officer’s duties have not changed, and the SPCA and humane society have been notified and will also assess the situation. When asked if the RPS would be footing any of the vet bills, Zaharuk couldn’t comment at this point.
Once police complete the internal investigation, it will be submitted to a use of force board for review and to determine next steps. The results of the investigation will also go to the Saskatchewan Police Commission for review. If a public complaint is received concerning the incident, the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) will conduct its own independent review.