OGDEN — An Ogden police cop is not at fault for shooting and
killing a German shepherd at a local residence earlier this month, according to
an internal review by the police department.
“After careful consideration and review of the incident, the
Shooting Review Board has determined that the actions taken by Cop Brandon
Rammell were justified and within the guidelines of the Ogden City Police
Department Use of Force Policy … and did not violate Utah state law governing
use of deadly force,” the police department said in the report regarding the
March 3 incident.
The shooting of the German shepherd, named Max, owned by Dan
and Roxanne Marocchi was investigated by Ogden police lieutenants Danielle
Croyle and Chad Ledford and Sgt. Tim Scott.
Roxanne Marocchi disputes the police department’s claim that
the shooting was justified, but isn’t surprised by the result of the
investigation.
“That’s what you get when you have cops investigating cops,”
she said Tuesday.
Friday night, Ogden police also shot and killed a dog they
say charged them during a burglary-in-progress call at a residence in the 500
block of 7th Street.
That incident remains under investigation.
However, both dog shootings this month could have been
avoided, said John Harvey, deputy director of support services for the Ogden
Police Department.
“Had the owners secured their animals, those pets would
still be alive,” he said in an email to the Standard-Examiner.
“Many, if not most, of our cops are animal-lovers, so when
they have to defend themselves, it’s not something they relish.”
Since 2007, Ogden police have shot and killed six dogs and
wounded another that was later euthanized.
The Marocchis and police are at odds over the fatal shooting
of Max.
The incident began when police responded to a report of a
man with a gun at the Marocchi’s residence in the 2400 block of Jackson Avenue.
Dan Marocchi believes he was reported to police because he
answered his door carrying a handgun for protection because a long-haired young
man whom he did not know was standing on his porch.
The individual came to the house to report that Max had run
across the street, frightening him and his dog, Roxanne Marocchi said. However,
she added, Max did not bite the man or his dog.
When police arrived, they ordered Dan Marocchi to keep Max
and another dog, an Australian shepherd mix named Rusty, inside. However, the
dogs were allowed to run outside, police said.
Rusty was later found near 30th Street and Washington
Boulevard.
Max charged at an cop, who was unable to deploy a Taser,
then leaped at another cop, who knocked the dog down and shot twice with a
handgun, killing the animal, according to police.
Marocchi said he never saw Max charge the first cop and
never saw any attempt by the cop to deploy a Taser.
It only took a few seconds for Max to run from the house to
a neighbor’s driveway, where he was shot, said Marocchi, who believes that
didn’t allow enough time for a second attack on a police cop.
The incident should serve as a reminder that residents
should keep their pets secured, particularly if they are calling for police assistance,
Harvey said.
“Cops are trained to deal with aggressive animals, and they
can usually determine if an animal is afraid, protecting their turf or about to
attack, but these issues become moot when the pet owner secures the animal