Internal Affairs Review board clears Salt Lake police officer of wrongdoing in shooting death of dog

Of course they did.

SALT LAKE CITY — A complaint filed by the owner of a dog that was shot and killed by a Salt Lake police officer in June was dismissed Friday following an investigation by a civilian review board.

The Salt Lake City Police Civilian Review Board investigated complaints made by dog owner Sean Kendall, who questioned whether Salt Lake detective Brett Olsen had properly entered Kendall's yard without a search warrant and whether his decision to fire his weapon was within policy and the law.

The panel found that Olsen's actions were reasonable under the circumstances.

Kendall said he was not surprised with the findings or the officer's "get out of (jail) free" card.

"When police are allowed to be judge, jury and executioner, there is little surprise that Brett Olsen had been allowed to get away with trespassing, discharging a firearm in a residential area, endangering the community and destroying private property," he said.

Kendall questioned the integrity of the board, saying members are appointed by Mayor Ralph Becker, "who has openly stated that he supports (Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris) Burbank's decision."

More with pic of a sweet looking dog.
[link to www.deseretnews.com]