The Los Angeles Police Department has declined to identify the officer who fatally shot Jameson, a 2-year-old Saint Berdoodle, at a Canoga Park condominium complex on June 13. The department cited alleged threats against the officer as the reason for withholding the name, a decision that has drawn criticism from the dog's family and their attorney.
California law generally requires the release of officer names involved in on-duty shooting investigations, but allows for exceptions if credible threats exist. The LAPD stated this exception applies in Jameson's case.
The incident occurred when LAPD officers responded to a neighbor's report of a woman screaming. Bodycam footage, released after public backlash, shows officers arriving at the home. Jameson, who had been with his family celebrating a championship victory, approached the officers.
According to the footage and reports, officers repeatedly asked the dog's owner, Marie Marseille, to secure Jameson. The dog then ran out of the unit and towards one of the officers in the hallway. The officer drew his weapon and fired four shots, killing the animal. The released video shows the shooting from two angles, with the involved officer's identity concealed.
Marseille's attorney, Brett Greenfield, argued that transparency without accountability is meaningless. He stated that the bodycam footage raises questions about the officer's actions, suggesting it shows a "frightened man, or the gun who put himself before the badge instead of relying upon training, judgment, and restraint." The family is seeking damages for the use of undue force.
The family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city, demanding accountability for the shooting. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.