An incident occurred near Balboa Park in San Diego on Monday evening when a dog attacked a police officer, resulting in the officer firing his service pistol and injuring the animal. The officers were in the park responding to complaints of transients in the area when they encountered a man and a woman with an unleashed dog. The dog became agitated and bit the officer’s leg twice, prompting the officer to shoot the animal to defend himself. The dog ran away but was later found and taken to a veterinary hospital. The officer was also sent to the hospital with wounds to his leg. The San Diego Police Department clarified that the initial reports of the dog’s death were inaccurate.
Lt. Christian Sharp of the San Diego Police Department explained that in the heat of the moment, there was no time for less-lethal measures as the dog posed an immediate threat to the officer. Both the man and the woman with the dog have been detained, and the police are still investigating the incident. This incident raises questions about the use of lethal force against animals and the protocol followed by law enforcement officers in such situations. The San Diego Police Department is expected to provide further updates as the investigation progresses.
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