The service dog, a Pit mix named Cleo, was wounded and is
recovering, according to her owner LaToya Plummer of Greenbelt.
Plummer, who is deaf and depends on Cleo to alert her to
visitors, is demanding that charges be filed against the unnamed police
officer.
According to Greenbelt police, the off-duty MPD sergeant
told investigators that Cleo ran towards her and her dog aggressively.
The off-duty officer reported Cleo was "bearing
teeth", and the officer said she feared for her safety, according to
Greenbelt Police spokesman George Mathews.
The off-duty officer immediately reported the shooting to
police.
Plummer said because she is deaf she did not hear the
gunshot and wasn't aware how Cleo got injured. At first, she thought Cleo had
been in a fight.
Plummer said she did not know the woman was an off-duty
police officer and she did not see a gun. Plummer said she left the dog park
before police arrived to get Cleo to a veterinarian.
She called police later in the day after learning from the
vet that Cleo had been shot.
Plummer said she was at the dog park with Cleo and two
other pets and preparing to take her dogs out of the fenced enclosure to her
vehicle when the shooting happened.
Plummer disputes the claim that Cleo was aggressive.
"She is the most calm and gentle of my dogs,"
Plummer said through an interpreter.
Investigators said Cleo was outside the park fence and was
unleashed.
The incident happened on Sunday at 6:30 a.m.
