OPP 'taking matter seriously' after video shows officers striking deer with axe
Force said this is not the way officers are trained and have called the incident disturbing
The Ontario Provincial Police have issued a statement on how one of their officers killed a wounded deer with the blunt end of an axe.
This comes after a video was posted by Animal Justice showing a OPP officer in Kenora hitting the injured deer on the ground on Sept. 3.
The OPP have said this is not the way officers are trained and have called the incident disturbing.
“Our officers are often required to take difficult actions as part of their duties,” the police force said in a statement on Saturday.
“The euthanasia of an injured animal is one of them. We want to provide reassurance to the public that we are taking this matter seriously. We are actively and thoroughly investigating the incident to gather all the necessary facts that influenced the circumstances.
“We remain committed to upholding the trust and confidence of the communities we serve. We will continue to strive to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, compassion and respect in serving the Province of Ontario.”
Animal Justice filed a complaint against the OPP and called the incident “police brutality”.
“It’s illegal to cause animals unnecessary pain and suffering and police are not above the law,” Animal Justice said on social media.
https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ ... r-with-axe
OPP 'taking matter seriously' after video shows officers str
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OPP 'taking matter seriously' after video shows officers str
by Thomas » Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:46 am
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Disturbing video of police dispatching deer in northern Ont.
by Thomas » Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:53 am
Disturbing video of police dispatching deer in northern Ont. being investigated
Ontario Provincial Police says it is investigating an incident involving a pair of officers in northern Ontario after a disturbing video surfaced showing an axe being used to dispatch a deer.
Animal Justice, a Canadian animal law advocacy group, posted a video of the incident on social media Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday evening on social media, OPP said it is aware of the incident "where officers attempted to dispatch a suffering deer using the side of an axe."
"This video is disturbing. This is not the way officers are trained or expected to deal with this scenario," OPP said.
"An investigation is underway."
In an official statement on Sept. 16, the OPP wrote:
"The Ontario Provincial Police would like to address an incident in Kenora where officers were called to respond to a motor vehicle collision that left a deer seriously injured. We appreciate the concerns raised by our community, and sincerely regret the distress the incident and the video have caused."
OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson confirmed in an email to CTV News on Wednesday morning the incident happened in a residential area of Kenora on Sept. 3.
"The deer had been hit by a vehicle and was critically injured and suffering," Dickson said.
Shannon Nickerson, Animal Justice's communications manager, said on the agency's website Tuesday a code of conduct complaint has been filed against the officers.
"The officers decided to euthanize the animal—but instead of using a safe and humane method, or calling for support, they violently struck the deer in the head with the blunt end of an axe and left her there to slowly die in agony, which took over an hour, according to local residents who witnessed the horrific incident," Nickerson said.
"The officers in question could have acted in countless more reasonable ways, including calling local animal services, contacting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for advice, or contacting a local animal rehabilitation centre for instruction on how to humanely contain or euthanize the animal."
Dickson said officers are authorized under the Police Services Act(opens in a new tab) to use their firearms to dispatch animals that are suffering but cannot "get into a lot of specifics of 'what should have happened.'"
OPP spokesperson Gosia Puzio said in a news release Saturday that officers are often required to take difficult actions as part of their duties – euthanasia of an injured animal is one of them.
The matter is being investigated by the OPP professional standards unit, said Dickson.
“We want to provide reassurance to the public that we are taking this matter seriously,” said police.
“We are actively and thoroughly investigating the incident to gather all the necessary facts that influenced the circumstances.”
https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/dist ... -1.6559367
Ontario Provincial Police says it is investigating an incident involving a pair of officers in northern Ontario after a disturbing video surfaced showing an axe being used to dispatch a deer.
Animal Justice, a Canadian animal law advocacy group, posted a video of the incident on social media Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday evening on social media, OPP said it is aware of the incident "where officers attempted to dispatch a suffering deer using the side of an axe."
"This video is disturbing. This is not the way officers are trained or expected to deal with this scenario," OPP said.
"An investigation is underway."
In an official statement on Sept. 16, the OPP wrote:
"The Ontario Provincial Police would like to address an incident in Kenora where officers were called to respond to a motor vehicle collision that left a deer seriously injured. We appreciate the concerns raised by our community, and sincerely regret the distress the incident and the video have caused."
OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson confirmed in an email to CTV News on Wednesday morning the incident happened in a residential area of Kenora on Sept. 3.
"The deer had been hit by a vehicle and was critically injured and suffering," Dickson said.
Shannon Nickerson, Animal Justice's communications manager, said on the agency's website Tuesday a code of conduct complaint has been filed against the officers.
"The officers decided to euthanize the animal—but instead of using a safe and humane method, or calling for support, they violently struck the deer in the head with the blunt end of an axe and left her there to slowly die in agony, which took over an hour, according to local residents who witnessed the horrific incident," Nickerson said.
"The officers in question could have acted in countless more reasonable ways, including calling local animal services, contacting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for advice, or contacting a local animal rehabilitation centre for instruction on how to humanely contain or euthanize the animal."
Dickson said officers are authorized under the Police Services Act(opens in a new tab) to use their firearms to dispatch animals that are suffering but cannot "get into a lot of specifics of 'what should have happened.'"
OPP spokesperson Gosia Puzio said in a news release Saturday that officers are often required to take difficult actions as part of their duties – euthanasia of an injured animal is one of them.
The matter is being investigated by the OPP professional standards unit, said Dickson.
“We want to provide reassurance to the public that we are taking this matter seriously,” said police.
“We are actively and thoroughly investigating the incident to gather all the necessary facts that influenced the circumstances.”
https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/dist ... -1.6559367
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OPP officer hits injured deer with axe
by Thomas » Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:55 am
The Ontario Provincial Police says it's investigating after video taken during the long weekend shows an officer striking an injured deer in the head with an axe.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2263458883991
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2263458883991
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‘This is not the way officers are trained.’ OPP investigatin
by Thomas » Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:56 am
‘This is not the way officers are trained.’ OPP investigating after ‘disturbing’ video appears to show police officer striking deer with axe
Ontario Provincial Police have launched an investigation after a “disturbing” video circulated online that appeared to show an OPP officer striking a deer with an axe.
“The OPP is aware of an incident in Kenora where officers attempted to dispatch a suffering deer using the side of an axe,” police said in a statement. “This video is disturbing. This is not the way officers are trained or are expected to deal with this scenario. An investigation is underway.”
The video, shared on Instagram and other social media, depicted what looked to be two OPP officers approach a deer that’s sitting down. One officer, holding an axe, is seen swinging the weapon toward the deer’s head; the animal goes limp after. The same officer then loses grip of their axe, sending it flying into the street.
The incident was reportedly recorded on Sept. 3, according to non-profit animal protection organization Animal Justice, which shared the video on Instagram. The incident took place after OPP was called to downtown Kenora in response to a deer that was struck by a vehicle, Animal Justice alleged in their post.
“The officers decided to euthanize the animal — but instead of using a safe & humane method, or calling for support, they violently struck the deer with the blunt end of an axe,” the group wrote, adding that locals say it took over an hour for the deer to die.
The animal rights group has since filed a complaint against the OPP for the “cruel & likely illegal treatment of an injured deer.”
The OPP did not immediately respond to the Star's request for comment.
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/thi ... 64984.html
Ontario Provincial Police have launched an investigation after a “disturbing” video circulated online that appeared to show an OPP officer striking a deer with an axe.
“The OPP is aware of an incident in Kenora where officers attempted to dispatch a suffering deer using the side of an axe,” police said in a statement. “This video is disturbing. This is not the way officers are trained or are expected to deal with this scenario. An investigation is underway.”
The video, shared on Instagram and other social media, depicted what looked to be two OPP officers approach a deer that’s sitting down. One officer, holding an axe, is seen swinging the weapon toward the deer’s head; the animal goes limp after. The same officer then loses grip of their axe, sending it flying into the street.
The incident was reportedly recorded on Sept. 3, according to non-profit animal protection organization Animal Justice, which shared the video on Instagram. The incident took place after OPP was called to downtown Kenora in response to a deer that was struck by a vehicle, Animal Justice alleged in their post.
“The officers decided to euthanize the animal — but instead of using a safe & humane method, or calling for support, they violently struck the deer with the blunt end of an axe,” the group wrote, adding that locals say it took over an hour for the deer to die.
The animal rights group has since filed a complaint against the OPP for the “cruel & likely illegal treatment of an injured deer.”
The OPP did not immediately respond to the Star's request for comment.
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/thi ... 64984.html
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