Davenport, IA – Days ago, a Davenport police officer opened fire on a family’s dog, killing the pet in front of two children and the dog’s owner. Graphic video of the deadly incident has sparked a great deal of controversy on social media, from people supporting the officer who decided to shoot the dog, and people outraged that the officer chose to use deadly force in the presence of kids.
The incident happened on the evening of August 21. A police officer was driving in an alley on 2100 Telegraph Road when he encountered two kids playing with their off-leash dog, Myst. The officer told the children to leash their dog.
Moments later, video shows the officer pull up to the home where the children walked to with Myst. The officer saw “mom” standing at the porch, and he got out of his patrol car to tell her why he had spoken to the two boys.
When the officer got out of his squad car, Myst ran to him, barking aggressively.
The officer, fearing for his safety, discharged his gun twice. Myst ran back to the porch and collapse, convulsing for a few moments before dying. The kids witnessed the entire ordeal and can be heard screaming.
The officer has been identified as Ethan Bock; the department has deemed his actions “lawful.”
The department’s statement:
The Davenport Police Department is aware of a public video showing an incident involving an officer discharging his firearm in an encounter with a dog, as family members are present.
On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at approximately 7:20 PM, Davenport Police responded to the 800 block of North Pine Street in reference to a report of four dogs at large, appearing aggressive. The caller stated the dogs were attempting to get over a fence to reach their dog.
While the officer was following-up to the call in the alley of 2100 Telegraph Road, a dog ran out of a yard in the officer’s direction. The officer is seen on the public video slowly backing up while the dog advances. The dog’s behavior became aggressive, resulting in the officer discharging his firearm at the dog. The dog died as a result of its injuries.
Standard practice in these circumstances includes a department review of videos from the neighborhood if available, body worn cameras, vehicle cameras, and all other information available at the time. The Davenport Police Department is committed to taking the time to ensure all standards, policies and procedures of the department are followed.
Davenport Police are investigating the incident. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Myst belonged to the Hesseltine family. They are devastated over the loss of their pet and have started a fundraiser to help with legal fees (read more here).
Watch the video (warning, graphic) on X here.
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