Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — As usual, Laura Bravo’s kids let their German shepherd into their locked back yard before school this morning.
Moments later, they heard several “pops” and looked out the window to see their 4-year-old pet, Malachi, lying in a bloody heap on the sidewalk across the street at 7:58 a.m.
The children -- a 14-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl -- ran to the dog, crouching down and hugging the fatally shot animal.
“I was freaking out. I was like, ‘what the heck,’” said the daughter, Rachel, with tears in her eyes.
It turned out that the shooter was an off-duty female officer who lives across the street from Bravo in the 7200 block of West Palatine on the Northwest Side.
The officer, who joined the force about three years ago, told investigators she was walking her smaller dog when Malachi ran toward them.
Malachi attacked her dog and then advanced toward the officer, growling and barking, she told investigators.
She told officers she shot Malachi because she feared for herself and her dog. Police said two bullet casings were recovered.
Bravo and some of her neighbors said they were furious about the shooting. They believe the officer overreacted.
“I saw the blood and told her, ‘You killed my dog!’” Bravo said. “She said she he was growling and she was afraid.”
Bravo thinks the dog may have escaped from a side gate.
Despite the red-and-white “Beware of the Dog” sign on her fence, Bravo said the 125-pound Malachi and her other dog -- a smaller German shepherd -- aren’t aggressive and often play with neighborhood children. “I understand [Malachi] is a big dog and can seem intimidating, but she overreacted,” Bravo said.
Bravo said she would like to see the police department suspend the officer for using her weapon unnecessarily and potentially jeopardizing neighbors with the gunfire.
To add insult to injury, Bravo said, the responding officers ticketed her for failing to have a dog license for Malachi.
“Like killing my dog wasn’t enough?” she said angrily, holding the ticket for a fine of up to $500. “I didn’t know I had to renew it every year.”
The officer could not be reached for comment.
The Independent Police Review Authority is investigating. The agency looks into incidents involving officers discharging their weapons.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Sun Times