This dog was fenced in.
The officer entered the property while
pursuing a suspect.
Police officer fatally shoots pit bull
Monday, May 14, 2001
Associated Press
EAST HARTFORD — A town police officer is claiming self-defense in the fatal shooting of a pit bull Saturday night, but the dog owner's family says the officer was never in danger.
Officer William Proulx was on a foot chase with a suspect who had left the scene of a nearby car accident when he and his police dog encountered the pit bull, said Officer Hugo Benettieri, a police spokesman.
"Apparently the pit bull was charging at the officer and his canine," Benettieri told WFSB-TV. "At that point, apparently Officer Proulx felt that his life was in danger ... and discharged one round into the dog and killed the dog."
Members of the owner's family said they were upset that the shooting happened in front of dozens of children and adults gathered at a barbecue. They also said they were angry because Proulx reportedly said, "It's your problem," after the shooting.
Proulx was cleared in the fatal shooting of a teenager in the early 1990s. His former police dog, Bruno, was cleared of numerous incidents of biting crime suspects.
Family members said the dog was friendly and would not have harmed the officer.
Police are investigating the incident and the family's allegations