Arizona cop who stomped dog to death resigns

Flagstaff, AZ, United States (4E) – An Arizona police officer who has been accused of bludgeoning, stomping and strangling an injured dog to try to put it down after a traffic accident in August has extended his resignation from the force last Friday.

Flagstaff Police Chief Kevin Treadway confirmed Monday that Corporal John Tewes submitted his letter of resignation because of the incident.

Prosecutors reported that there were not enough evidence to seek criminal charges in the incident, but the department has started an internal investigation into Tewes’ actions.

Tewes allegedly responded after another officer called about hitting a dog with his car in August. He and the other officer agreed that the dog required euthanasia, but Tewes worried about using his gun.

The resigned officer then attempted multiple times to bludgeon the dog to death. When it did not die, he jumped on the dog’s head which cave in its skull. When that action was again unsuccessful in killing the animal, Tewes strangled the dog using a metal cable called hobble. The dog died after 20 to 30 minutes of struggle.

In a statement last Monday, police announced a revised departmental policy and improved training regarding treatment of animals.

The department has had a longstanding policy requiring euthanasia for injured wildlife with the use of either a sidearm or shotgun. Its protocols also call for either the Humane Association or an animal control officer to be contacted if an injured animal cannot be dispatched in the field.

Tewes claimed he usually club animals to end their suffering while he was hunting and he thought the dog would die immediately once he used his baton.

Investigators said that he didn’t ask other officers for advice about other methods because he thought he could properly do it.

Treadway has publicly apologized over the incident, but animal rights activists said the officer’s actions were inexcusable.

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