Rochester, N.Y. – Monroe County Sheriff’s Investigators released the findings from an investigation on a pit bull killed by deputies on June 1.
The investigation concluded the shooting was justified.
"During our investigation, we found that our two deputies acted completely according to their training and with our general orders," says Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn.
Diablo, the pit bull, was inside the open garage at his own home and restricted by an invisible fence. When two sheriff’s deputies walked up the dark driveway on Whitney Street the dog was startled. Officers described Diablo as aggressive.
"Approximately eight to ten people contacted us and advised that the dog was anything but a docile dog," says O'Flynn. "We've had two complaints about dogs at that house and one had to do with loose dogs. People said that they refused to ride their bikes or run in the area close to the house because of the dogs and their actions."
With split seconds to make a decision, deputies relied on protocol to treat a dog running at them as though it were a person running at them with a knife. They fired four shots.
Deputies were on the property because of a parking complaint. According to the sheriff, they were walking up to the house to ask the owner to re-park his car when the dog ran towards them from the garage.
