JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown family is demanding justice from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office after their dog was shot and killed while a deputy was serving papers to a neighbor.
Jamestown resident Joe Donisi posted on Facebook that he working outside of his home and his dog Rocky, a 10-year-old Boxer, was nearby. He said at one point his dog was not in eyesight and he suddenly heard a calm voice telling his dog to lay down. Donisi said that before he could see what was happening, he heard a single gunshot and his 10 year-old boxer “Rocky” yelping and running toward him. A short time later, Rocky died from his injury.
Donisi claims that Rock wasn’t barking or growling, nor had the dog ever had a history hurting others. He feels the deputy, identified as Robert Holcomb, used unnecessary and excessive force. Following the shooting, Holcomb reportedly told Donisi that he felt threatened by the dog and so he shot him.
Joe Donisi, took this image of his dog Rocky shortly after it was shot dead by a member of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office who claimed he felt threatened by the animal and subsequently shot it on Friday, Aug. 21, 2015 in Jamestown, NY.
Now a Facebook group entitled “Justice for Rocky” has been established demanding that the Sheriff’s Office take action against Deputy Holcomb. The facebook page has an estimated 2000 members. An online petition calling for the removal of Deputy Holcomb from the sheriff’s office has also been created, with more than 1500 signatures.
Donisi also said that he is considering legal action against Holcomb and the sheriff’s office for killing his pet on his own property.
Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace said that the incident is under investigation.
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