Shooting of Dog in North Idaho Not Justified

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — The Couer d'Alene police chief says an internal review found an officer's shooting of a dog in a parked van was not a reasonable use of force.

Chief Lee White said Friday the review concluded Officer Dave Kelley violated department policy when he shot the Labrador retriever mix named Arfee in July. The Couer d'Alene Press reports Kelley is still with the department and City Attorney Mike Gridley would not comment on potential disciplinary action.

Kelley was responding to a report of a suspicious van parked behind a coffee house. A police statement on July 9 said an officer shot and killed "a vicious pit bull" inside. The dog's owner said he had parked behind the business so Arfee would be in the shade and he left the window halfway down.