faulted agents in 2019 for misusing their guns in two separate shootings, each an exceedingly rare internal finding of violations of its lethal force policy, according to documents obtained by The New York Times.
The first involved an agent in Arkansas who shot at — but missed — a suspect who was driving away to flee arrest.
The other involved an agent in California who fatally shot a family dog that he said bit him during a “family dispute” while he was off duty; he got a five-day suspension.
While neither shooting, both of which took place in 2017, was a major imbroglio, their disclosure is notable.
Under its deadly force policy, agents are only permitted to fire their guns, outside of practice ranges, if they reasonably believe that the target poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to someone.
Organizations:
The New York Times
Locations:
Arkansas, California