Residents protesting a police officer shooting another resident's dog on New Year's Day staged a demonstration on Saturday outside the headquarters of the Northeast District, as the new commander there introduced himself to residents.
A Baltimore police officer chased a suspect through Stacy Fields's yard in the 5500 block of Bucknell Road, and when her dog Kincaid started barking at him, the officer shot him. The dog had charged, according to a police report, and the department said the shooting was justified. But Fields thinks it was unnecessary.
"He could have kicked him as easily as shot him," she said. "Every dog barks, especially at strangers in the yard."
Fields has mounted a Facebook campaign, which attracted more than 9,000 supporters as of Saturday, and is calling for the officer involved in the shooting to be named and for police to be better trained to deal with animals. About 24 supporters turned up to wave banners and hand out fliers at the police station.
Maj. Richard Worley, the newly installed commander of the Northeast District, said the officer's name has not been released because threats have been made against him.
"It was just a tragic incident that occurred," Worley added.
iduncan@baltsun.com
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