Wyo. cops keeping quiet on shooting of family dog |
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Wyo. cops keeping quiet on shooting of family dog
By Michael Van Cassell
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The sheriff's department released reports Friday about an August deputy-involved dog shooting but would not comment further on the incident.
Laramie County Sheriff's Department spokesman Gerry Luce said the agency has been contacted by a lawyer claiming to represent the family that owned the dog.
"Our indication is that we may be part of pending or ongoing litigation, and the department policy is not to comment on pending or ongoing litigation," Luce said.
The reports included statements and narratives from deputy Kenny Thomas, Mary Bolin and Shaun Bolin.
Thomas wrote that on Aug. 11 he was serving an eviction notice on Mary Bolin in the 600 block of Evans Avenue. Thomas wrote that he honked his horn when he pulled up to the home, a young man opened the door, and a pit bull-terrier mix began "barking violently and charge outside directly at" him.
In the report, Thomas said he began to back away from the door and dog while shouting "BACK! NO! BACK!" repeatedly.
Thomas then drew his pistol when the dog came within a foot of his leg and shot the animal once in the head, he wrote.
"During this attack, I was, and still am, certain that if I didn't shoot the dog when I did, it would have, at the very least, chewed up and mangled my leg, and might very possibly have given me a fatal arterial wound," Thomas wrote.
Shaun Bolin said in his statement that he jumped back because the deputy "came close to shooting (him)."
Thomas wrote that the incident took about seven seconds, the boy didn't move from the door and "wasn't near the dog when (he) had to shoot it."
County Attorney Mark Voss said his office investigates all incidents in which a firearm is discharged.
"All I can tell you is that we conducted one," he said.
Bruce Moats, an attorney who often represents the Wyoming Press Association and is an expert in state open-records law, indicated the outcome of the investigation should be public, but not any action taken against the deputy, if any.
"Any disciplinary action that might be taken could be withheld under the personnel exemption, but not the report into whether things were done properly or not," he said.
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Copyright 2009 Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
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