Was it appropriate use of force in the situation, or a case of needless animal cruelty?
That’s the question being asked by residents in Ravena, N.Y., after video surfaced earlier this week showing officers attempting to “put down” an allegedly rabid racoon – by running it over with their cars.
In the video, two police cars – one marked, one unmarked – take multiple runs at the animal, appearing to strike it as it moves about the parking lot.
Police say they received two 911 calls about a “sick” raccoon this past Monday, the second of which arrived around 12:55 p.m. and directed them to the parking lot of the Ravena Shop and Save.
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Police say their standard procedure upon the discovery of a rabid animal is to euthanize it if it is deemed to be a threat to public safety.
“With the normal course of action being [the animal] dispatched by firearm, this was deemed as an invalid option,” police said in their statement.
Police decided to use their vehicles “based on the location being heavily traversed by both vehicle and people, and the probability of a ricochet of the projectile, to be too great a hazard to both the citizenry, and property in the area.”
However, some of the witnesses who spoke with local media say they don’t buy the police department acted out of concern for public safety.
“They didn’t think it was unsafe driving 45 mph, running it over, back and forth – in an open parking lot,” Catucci said.
“It was devastating to watch. It literally went on for 20-25 minutes,” said Amanda Myers, another witness. “They would come back around, kind of nick the raccoon, kind of make it tumble. Finally, I think the one hit near the end finally did a number on the raccoon.”
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Police maintain their officers acted ‘without malice or contempt” when they made the decision to run the raccoon over, calling it the safest option “given the circumstances presented.”
However, the department acknowledges the uproar the video has caused in the local community.
“The Town of Coeymans Police Department is committed to developing and implementing a less visceral and safer solution to any such incidents going forward,” police said.
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