Danville police chief defends shooting of dog

At a news conference Thursday, Danville Police Chief Philip Broadfoot said he regretted that a miniature dachshund was shot and killed, but he did not regret Officer Murrill McLean’s decision-making process that led to the dog’s death.

“The fact of the matter is that the dog was running loose, that it placed officer McLean in a precarious situation, and that officer McLean made a judgment decision in a fraction of a second that cannot be re-versed,” Broadfoot said. “I’m not expressing regret over the decision.”

The news conference was the result of a Monday incident involving a Danville police officer and the miniature dachshund named Killer. Broadfoot revisited the incident as he read a prepared statement during the news conference.

He said that McLean went to the 100 block of Berman Drive to serve warrants at about 8:50 p.m. Monday. The 11-year-old dog owned by neighbors next door approached the officer aggressively, showing its teeth and growling, he said. That type of behavior is characteristic of a dog with rabies, Broadfoot said.

When the dog lunged at McLean, he drew his pistol and fired one shot, hitting and killing the dog.

“I don’t think he overreacted,” Broadfoot said. “I think he reacted based on the information he had at the time.”

Broadfoot said that no disciplinary action would be taken against McLean. A Wednesday news release stated that McLean acted within department policy. Broadfoot said that the department would hold internal discussions to prepare for similar situations, but policy wouldn’t fundamentally change.

“There is no way any police department anywhere in the U.S. will change a policy that says an officer has the right to defend themselves,” he said.

Broadfoot said the delay between the time of the shooting and the department’s acknowledgement was due to a vacation he was on from Monday to Wednesday. During the vacation, he didn’t have access to e-mail.

Danville has a leash law that requires dogs to be on a leash when off the owner’s property, Broadfoot added. Killer was not on his owner’s property Monday night at the time of the shooting.

The community reaction did not surprise the police chief, he said.

“I’m appreciative of the fact that the community is so caring,” Broadfoot said. “Anything that makes us think closely about what we are going to do with deadly force is always a good thing.”

McLean joined the Danville Police Department in 2005. Since then, he has never had a disciplinary violation, Broadfoot said. McLean also is a staff sergeant in the Virginia National Guard with more than 14 years of military service, including a tour in Iraq.

“Officer McLean is no stranger to challenges, to adversity, to managing fear or to rational decision-making,” Broadfoot said. “Any attempt to characterize him as reckless is inconsistent with his proven record of responsible behavior.”