Following the shooting of dogs in Brunava Parish in October this year, disciplinary sanctions have been imposed on two officers of the Bauska Municipal Police.
To establish the factual circumstances of the incident registered on the 10th of October and to assess the actions of municipal police officers at the scene, a commission was set up to conduct an internal service investigation. Based on the commission’s findings and the rules governing disciplinary liability for municipal police officers, three disciplinary proceedings were initiated within the municipal police.
The evaluation of the officers’ conduct found that, while performing their duties, they failed to fully comply with the requirements set out in their job descriptions as well as in the internal and external regulatory acts governing the work of the municipal police.
Two of the disciplinary cases have now been completed, resulting in disciplinary penalties being imposed on two officers. The third case has been suspended because the officer concerned is currently on justified leave.
As previously reported, on the 10th of October
the Bauska Municipality explained that the municipal police received a call regarding three aggressive stray dogs
threatening a woman on private property in Brunava Parish. The municipal police duty unit contacted the Animal Rescue Service, but a representative of a hunters’ association reportedly arrived before the animal catchers and shot the dogs.
The State Police of Latvia has opened criminal proceedings under Section 230(2) of the Criminal Law for cruelty to animals. This offence carries a possible penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, short-term detention or probation supervision, along with a ban on keeping certain or all types of animals for up to five years.
In addition, the municipal police initiated two administrative proceedings — one related to the killing of a roe deer by the dogs, and another concerning the unlawful roaming of animals.
At the outset of the service investigation,
the head of the municipal police, Egīls Gailis, was suspended from his duties.
He was later dismissed following an interim report from the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Bauska Municipal Police has also contacted the Internal Security Bureau, the State Police, and the Ministry of the Interior Information Centre in connection with a suspected data leak.
Entrepreneur Modris Konovalovs, the owner of the farm Modra olas, has stated on social media that the animals belonged to him.
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