Police officer shoots dog after it barked near him

'The officer pulled his service weapon to protect himself from the aggressive pit bull,' Kewanee PD spokesperson says

A US police force has defended an officer who shot a dog that was barking near him, saying he had acted in self-defence.

The Kewanee Police department said the officer had been called out after a local complained that “an aggressive pit bull” was “charging at people” in the small Henry County city in Illinois.

In body camera footage released by KPD, the officer, who refers to himself as Shaun, talks to locals who say the dog had been attempting to bite people people as they walk by.

However despite taking a catch pole from his van in the hopes of ensnaring the dog, the officer instead fired on the animal as it walks towards him – telling someone over the phone that the pet was “charging”.

The shot reportedly passed through the animal’s neck, narrowly missing its throat, according to accounts of its veterinary diagnosis.

A police spokesperson said: “Based upon the officer’s own observations, combined with the complainant’s information about the pit bull attempting to attack him on multiple occasions, the officer pulled his service weapon to protect himself from the aggressive pit bull”.

They added: “The officer yells at the dog to get back, but the pit bull keeps barking and advancing towards him across the road towards his position.”

The dog, later confirmed to be named Caprice, can be heard whimpering as he runs from the area.

After briefly looking for the wounded animal the officer turns to the locals watching the exchange, saying “God,I hate doing that”.

Caprice was found two days later after arriving at the home of owner Jessica Smith, who quickly took her pet to a vet for emergency treatment.

Ms Smith, who owns two pit bulls including Caprice, was cited for allowing a dog to run at large.

In a statement a force spokesperson said: “The body camera footage clearly shows the pit bull was aggressive and approaching the officer in the street.

“Over the last twelve months, the Kewanee Police Department has responded to 777 complaints of dogs running at large and 32 complaints of individuals being bitten by a dog.”