An online petition was filed following the fatal shooting of a family dog by a Davenport police officer.
A Davenport, Iowa police officer, identified as Ethan Bock, is under investigation after fatally shooting a dog in front of its owners and their young children on August 21.
Bock responded to a report of four aggressive dogs attempting to jump a fence near the 800 block of North Pine Street. While investigating the call in an alley on Telegraph Road, Bock encountered one of the dogs, named Myst, running toward him from a yard. The officer shot the dog, claiming it was aggressive.
The Davenport Police Department issued a statement confirming that the incident is under investigation. They are reviewing all available surveillance footage and body-worn camera recordings to determine whether the use of deadly force was justified.
However, the department’s statement did not directly mention Bock. Additionally, the police did not confirm whether the dog bit Officer Bock during the incident, but Myst’s owner, Hesseltine, told News 8 that Myst did not bite the officer.
Myst’s owner, Hesseltine, expressed deep grief and outrage, stating that the dog was not part of the initial call and questioning why the officer shot his pet. “This just isn’t a dog, this is a family member,” Hesseltine said.
The incident has sparked further public outrage, with over 5,000 people signing an online petition demanding accountability for the officer involved. Hesseltine also mentioned that his child now mistrusts the police following the tragic event.
