Police Officer Who Shot & Killed Family Dog Rehired in Ohio

Disclaimer: This article mentions animal violence. Reader discretion is advised.

A Lorain police officer hit the headlines last year after he shot and killed a dog named Dixie. The tragic incident sparked a public outcry in Ohio as they demanded justice for the dog, a 3-year-old Labrador mix. The officer was investigated for the fatal shooting of the canine. He’s now back in the news after getting rehired into a new department.

Per FOX 9 News , the officer responded to a report of loose dogs along Oberlin Avenue on July 2, 2023. The investigation found that Dixie was considered aggressive while charging toward him. However, the dog’s owners said she did not pose a threat. The officer backed up and fired multiple shots at Dixie. He continued shooting even after she was wounded and crawled toward her family.

Following the investigation, Lorain Police Chief McCann announced the officer’s actions were considered “reasonable” as he believed the dog was about to attack him. The same year, the officer was hospitalized in April after getting bitten by another dog.

Although the department initially placed the officer on modified duty, it was later changed to administrative leave. In August 2024, Elliot Palmer joined the Sheffield Police Department as a full-time officer, reported Cleveland 19 News . Sheffield Lake Mayor Rocky Radeff stated, “Don’t let public opinion keep us from hiring someone who’s more than qualified for this position.”

Dog owner wants ‘justice’ after police officer shot and killed 3-year-old Dixie

According to Cleveland 19 News, the dog’s owner, Mellenie Kerns, said that Dixie and Tammie Kerns’ four dogs were on “edge” because the Fourth of July fireworks had been going off through the weekend. Due to that, the dogs accidentally broke out of their Lorain home in Ohio.

Mellenie explains although she got a hold of two of the dogs, Dixie started running because of the officer screaming. The pup was “in the middle of the street on the yellow lines” and “no way near him or charging him” when the officer fatally shot Dixie. The same was seen in the bodycam footage released by the Lorain Police Department.

Following the shooting, Mellenie just wanted justice for Dixie. The 3-year-old pup had no biting incidents and was “one of the most lovable dogs ever possible.”

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