New Orleans Officer Cleared of Punishment After Shooting 18-Week-Old Puppy, Sparking Outrage Over Qualified Immunity Law
A jury in New Orleans has ruled that a police officer’s actions were “unreasonable” when he shot and killed an 18-week-old puppy during a response to a noise complaint in 2021. While the court concluded that Officer Derrick Burmaster violated the constitutional rights of the dog’s owners, he will not face disciplinary measures due to the doctrine of “qualified immunity.” The incident occurred on April 10, 2021, when Burmaster and his partner were called to Derek Brown and Julia Barecki-Brown’s residence. Upon their arrival, the couple let their two dogs into the yard, which prompted … Read more