Civil Liberties

Police Launch Investigation of Man Whose Dog They Shot While Arresting Him for Filming Them

Hawthorne Police Department in California will also launch an "administrative investigation" into the shooting and plan to use it as an example in training

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The Hawthorne Police Department will launch multiple investigations into the fatal shooting of a Rottweiler over the weekend, which was caught on video and subsequently posted on YouTube.

The first investigation will deal with the dog's owner, 52-year-old Leon Rosby, for allegedly interfering with a police investigation. The other will be an internal affairs investigation into the officers' actions.

"The administrative investigation will run its course and, depending on its findings and the outcome of that administrative investigation, the Hawthorne Police Department will take appropriate action with the officers involved," said Lt. Greg Tomatini.

"The very least, as a result of the nature of this incident, and this organization's desire to avoid a similar incident in the future, we're absolutely going to use it as a training type of example," Tomatini added.