Police: New Jersey Officer Who Shot Dog Has Been Exonerated

WYCKOFF, N.J. (AP) — A northern New Jersey police officer who fatally shot a dog after going to the wrong address to investigate a burglary has been exonerated by police.

Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox released a statement Friday and says that after the department's Internal Affairs Unit conducted an investigation, he concluded that officer Kyle Ferreira had given an honest account.

Fox says Ferreira believed the dog could cause serious bodily harm after it bit one of his feet. He says Ferreira followed state attorney general's office guidelines for the use of deadly force.

The Bergen County prosecutor declined to investigate the incident.

Ferreira had shot the German shepherd four times in April after being dispatched to the wrong house.

The family that owned the dog says they are disappointed by the outcome.

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