Shelby police respond after social media video reveals officer running over raccoon
SHELBY, Ohio (WJW)– The Shelby Police Department has responded after a video of an officer running over a raccoon in his cruiser was shared on social networks.
According to Shelby police, the department received two calls about an ill or rabid raccoon in the roadway on Second Street from area locals.
Authorities say one caller was concerned that kids were messing with the raccoon and might get bitten.
Upon arrival, the responding officer observed that the raccoon, who was staggering in the roadway, was plainly sick or injured. He reportedly chose the animal required “to be damaged” and, due to the time of day and remaining in a suburb, he did not feel it was safe to destroy the animal utilizing his firearm.
Authorities say there isn’t an animal control department in the city of Shelby or in Richland County, including that they do not have “the training or equipment to record a potentially wild animal, that would ultimately require to be destroyed regardless.”
Authorities state the officer made a judgement call and chose to damage the raccoon utilizing his vehicle.
They acknowledge that the actions in the video are unpleasant to view. Likewise state the officer chose to side with public security and destroy the animal, which could be dangerous to the public– particularly kids, as quickly as possible and without endangering the neighborhood.
The raccoon has considering that been selected up by the Shelby Fire Department and has been properly gotten rid of. Authorities are presently dealing with the Shelby Health Department to figure out if screening can be done to discover if the animal was sick.
Shelby authorities say that in the past year they have actually reacted to 8 animal bites and over 140 animal calls, nevertheless in extremely couple of cases they are required to damage animals.
As an outcome of this occurrence, Shelby Cops Department will be reviewing its policy and training and will be satisfying with the law director Thursday early morning to evaluate this occurrence completely.
This content was originally published here.