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An investigation is underway after a video surfaced online which appears to show an OPP officer striking a deer using an axe in Kenora, the Ontario Provincial Police say.
In a statement released Saturday, the OPP say that officers had been dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle collision that left a deer with serious injuries.
The video posted on social media appears to show two OPP officers near a deer that’s sitting down. One of the officers holding an axe takes a swing at the deer’s head. The officer loses grip of the axe which then goes flying into the street. The video appears to be taken from inside of a residence across the street.
“Our officers are often required to take difficult actions as part of their duties; the euthanasia of an injured animal is one of them,” the statement reads.
In a previous tweet, the OPP called the video “disturbing,” and said, “this is not the way officers are trained or are expected to deal with this scenario.”
The OPP told Global News the incident happened on Sept. 3.
Animal activists have reacted to the video calling it “cruel” and an “illegal treatment of an injured deer.”
Animal Justice said it has filed a complaint against the OPP.
“We appreciate the concerns raised by our community, and sincerely regret the distress the incident and the video have caused,” the OPP said.
“We are actively and thoroughly investigating the incident to gather all the necessary facts that influenced the circumstances.”