Henderson Police Detail After-Hours Animal Protocol Following Fatal Dog Shooting
Henderson police handle animal-related calls when Animal Protection Services operates outside its normal schedule, city officials said following the fatal police shooting of an 8-year-old black Lab mix named Rocky. The incident occurred on October 2 near Arroyo Grande and Santiago Drive, according to local reporting from News 3. The family’s other dog, Bear, survived the encounter.
City officials did not specify operating hours in their official statement, but the city website lists Animal Protection Services hours as Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., petving.com reported. Residents can submit nonemergency animal concerns through the Contact Henderson system. When an after-hours situation requires an immediate response, a Henderson police officer can contact an Animal Protection Services supervisor to request a callout, provided the action receives approval from supervisors in both departments, catstreeshop.com noted.
Surveillance Footage Raises Questions Regarding Dog-Encounter Training
Surveillance video obtained by News 3 shows the officer moving around his patrol car while the dogs bark and appear to chase him before he fires one round, striking and killing Rocky. Carl Arnold, an attorney representing the family, questioned whether the officer followed proper protocols for canine encounters.
Henderson police handle animal-related calls when Animal Protection Services is outside its operating hours, according to a City of Henderson spokesperson following the deadly shooting of a dog in which Animal Protection Services was contacted. https://t.co/kvKHeRS99M
Arnold pointed to a training video series provided to law enforcement agencies by the Nevada Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, known as POST. “The first thing that they say is, ‘Do not run,'” Arnold told News 3. “As soon as that officer had exited from his vehicle, he started to run. Everybody knows you run from a dog; a dog is going to chase you.”
A review of the 50-minute POST training series by News 3 confirmed that officers are instructed never to run, warning that animals may chase or bite individuals who move quickly.
Department Response and Ongoing Administrative Investigation
Henderson police declined to discuss the specifics of the incident, citing an ongoing administrative investigation. Department policy requires an administrative review anytime an officer discharges a firearm.
In a statement provided to News 3, the police department defended the officer’s actions:
“Any time an officer discharges their firearm, an administrative investigation is initiated. Because of that and the fact that this investigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment further on this investigation and its details. We can confirm that Animal Protection Services was contacted. As noted in our previous statement, our officers are trained to use less-lethal options when it is safe and practical to do so. In this incident, the officer repeatedly attempted to create distance as the dogs aggressively advanced toward him and deployed OC spray in an effort to deter them. When the dogs continued to advance despite these efforts, the officer discharged his firearm to protect himself and the community.”
The department also urged pet owners to keep animals secured at home or on leashes in public spaces to ensure the safety of residents and first responders.
Prior Training Gaps Addressed by Police Leadership
The current inquiry follows questions from News 3 regarding whether all officers strictly adhere to dog-encounter training guidelines. Those questions arose after a separate incident in November where another officer shot and killed a family dog during a wellness check.
Following that prior shooting, Deputy Chief Matt Murnane informed News 3 in February that all department officers were required to watch the POST training video.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Henderson Animal Response
What are the official operating hours for Animal Protection Services in Henderson?
The city’s official website lists Animal Protection Services hours as Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to petving.com and catstreeshop.com.
Who can authorize an after-hours animal callout in Henderson?
A Henderson police officer can contact an Animal Protection Services supervisor to request an after-hours response, but the callout requires approval from supervisors in both departments, catstreeshop.com reported.
What specific training guidelines do Nevada law enforcement officers receive for dog encounters?
The Nevada Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training provides a 50-minute video series instructing officers that they should never run from a dog because quick movement can trigger chasing or biting behavior, as reported by News 3.