A former Attorney General of The Bahamas has added his voice to growing public outrage over the fatal shooting of a family dog by a correctional officer, characterizing the incident as a severe misuse of firearms and a disproportionate application of force. John Delaney, who served in Cabinet under former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, stated that widely circulated video footage from Friday’s incident on Soldier Road raises profound concerns regarding officer judgment, restraint, and institutional accountability.
Delaney expressed particular alarm at correctional officers marching in a public parade with ‘guns drawn,’ describing the display as an ostentatious and unnecessary show of force. In an official statement shared with The Tribune, he noted that the service dogs accompanying the officers demonstrated greater socialization and threat assessment capabilities than their human handler, who fatally shot the three-year-old dog belonging to veteran musician Duke Errol Strachan.
The incident occurred as correctional officers passed Strachan’s property during a funeral procession for a retired colleague. Security footage shows two dogs on the property barking and approaching the procession. One officer, already holding his drawn firearm, discharged a single shot killing one dog instantly.
Delaney challenged the initial characterization of the dogs by the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) Public Relations Department, urging a transparent investigation, appropriate disciplinary action for the officer involved, compensation for the dog’s owner, and a public apology. He emphasized that the department’s credibility remains at stake until it demonstrates its professed value for animal lives through concrete actions.
While acknowledging that responsible dog ownership requires proper containment, Delaney noted there was no clear evidence the dogs had left their property or posed an imminent threat. He suggested officers could have simply crossed the street to avoid potential conflict, displaying better judgment and precaution.
The BDCS has described the shooting as unfortunate and confirmed an investigation is underway, with officers involved to be interviewed. The Department of Agriculture’s Animal Control Unit has spoken with the dog’s owners and collected the animal’s remains.