LAPD Releases Bodycam Footage of Dog Shooting in Canoga Park
The Los Angeles Police Department made public an edited body-camera video showing officers firing at a 2-year-old dog after it allegedly charged during a call to a Canoga Park apartment, prompting internal investigations and a mayoral response.
Los Angeles police released an eight-minute edited body-camera video on Friday that captures the moment officers fired four shots at a large dog in a Canoga Park apartment on Saturday night. The incident began after officers responded to reports of screams, which later were identified as a resident reacting to a basketball game victory. According to the department, the dog, a 106-pound golden Saint Bernard doodle named Jameson, barked and allegedly charged when the resident reopened the door after being asked to secure the animal.
In the footage, officers can be heard instructing the occupants to hold or secure the dog, while the woman inside tells them the dog is not aggressive. The video shows a single officer discharging his weapon as the dog moves toward him. The officer’s face was blurred, a step the department said was taken to verify the credibility of threats received.
The LAPD’s Internal Affairs Division has opened a separate use-of-force investigation, and several citizen complaints have been filed. Mayor Karen Bass said the footage was “disturbing and tragic” and emphasized the need for a swift, transparent investigation. She urged a review of the department’s policy on dog encounters, noting that current guidance includes voice commands, spray and fire extinguishers, with deadly force permitted only when there is a reasonable threat of death or serious injury.
The department indicated the investigation could take up to a year, and findings may evolve as additional evidence is examined.
