LA Police Seize Animal Officers’ Guns
August 4, 2011 by UPI - United Press International, Inc.
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 4 (UPI) — Animal control officers at shelters in Los Angeles lost their guns to the police anti-gang unit Thursday, officials said.
An employee at one shelter told the Los Angeles Daily News police showed up at about 8 a.m. Los Angeles Police Department officers presented a memo from Animal Services General Manager Brenda Barnette authorizing the confiscation and left with a large number of handguns, two shotguns and a rifle as well as ammunition.
The weapons were kept in a storage locker and are used when large animals have to be put down, the employee said.
Barnette’s memo was short: “To all personnel: Re weapons and ammunition audit. Please give the LAPD all handguns, rifles, shotguns and ammunition that are at your shelter.”
The newspaper said raids appeared to have been conducted at all shelters.
Animal control officers have basic police training, including 24 hours of firearms instruction.
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