On Monday evening at approximately 8:30PM, a Danville police officer attempted to serve two outstanding warrants on a resident in the 100 block of Berman Drive. The officer went to the door of the wanted person, but there was no answer and he left. As the officer was walking back to his police vehicle, he was surprised by a growling dog running through the yard directly at him from the rear, leaving him with just seconds to consider his options (run for the safety of the police vehicle, attempt to distract the dog from its attack, try to use pepper spray or baton, or use his firearm). As the dog lunged at the officer and attacked him, he was able to draw and fire his weapon once. The bullet struck and killed the dog.

 

The investigation revealed that the dog was named “Killer”, was a Dachshund, had displayed aggressive tendencies before to others, and belonged at the house next door to where the officer was attempting to serve the warrant.

 

The Danville Police Department realizes that the shooting of a small breed dog is unusual and will be the subject of much discussion in the community.  Officers are constantly confronted by dogs because part of the job of being a police officer entails approaching homes, walking through yards, and climbing over fences.  We successfully defuse these encounters on a daily basis without resorting to the use of a firearm.  Members of the Department received training in 2006 sponsored by the Danville Humane Society and the American Humane Association and learned several techniques to defuse aggressive behavior in dogs.  Unfortunately, as the training acknowledged, options are limited when dealing with a dog that is engaged in a running attack from the rear without warning.  

 

Shooting a dog which is actively presenting a threat to an officer is within the department’s policy.  An officer is not required to “take a bite” from any dog, including small breeds, because any breaking of the skin can transmit rabies.  If the attacking dog cannot be identified and captured and quarantined after the attack, the officer must take a series of rabies vaccine shots.  Rabies is a fatal disease that cannot be reversed.  An infected person cannot wait and see if they have rabies and then take the shots.

 

In the few seconds before the attack, most officers will not decide to “take a bite” in the hopes that the dog can be identified, captured, and quarantined.  It is unreasonable to expect an officer to factor into his decision making process during an attack the likelihood of a successful identification, capture, and quarantine after the attack.