A video has emerged online showing a Las Vegas police officer apparently kicking a police K9, leading to widespread outrage and drawing the attention of department officials.
The footage, which has started circulating on social media, depicts a woman with her hands raised as the officer tries to control a barking K9 before kicking the dog twice.
The video concludes with the officer moving towards the front of a police vehicle, with the camera shifting back to the woman.
This 35-second clip was initially shared on the LVEI (Las Vegas Emergency Incidents) Facebook page on Tuesday, highlighting a police response at the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Boulder Highway.
A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department acknowledged in an email on Friday that they are aware of the incident, though he did not confirm if an investigation is underway. “We are aware of social media videos circulating regarding this incident,” the statement read.
According to the spokesperson, the incident was part of a response to a report of a shooting in the 6300 block of Ruby Lynn Avenue, but officers later found that no shooting had actually occurred.
Public reaction on social media has been largely negative. One Facebook user, Patti Gugino, questioned, “Why did the K9 get kicked???????”
A post on Reddit about the incident remarked, “I hope we can all agree that kicking a dog, at least in Kindergarten through 9th grade, is sufficient reason to fire a police officer,” gaining over 182 upvotes and numerous comments. Another user, using the name Bararos, compared the act to “kicking your own child.”
