K9 officer charged with shooting neighbor's dog


By Beth Alston

A Georgia police officer has been charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals after investigators said he shot and killed a neighbor's dog.
Officer William Lamb, 31, of the Americus (Georgia) Police Department was out walking his own dog, a member of the K9 unit, on Wednesday when he saw his neighbor's dog unleashed and on the street, according to Sumter County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Col. Eric Bryant.
Lamb took his own dog back inside and returned to the street with a .270 rifle, and then shot and killed the neighbor's animal, Bryant said.
Bryant said witnesses said they heard two shots, but only one shell casing was found.
Lamb turned himself in and was released Thursday on a set a $5,000 bond.
Laura Lee Bernstein, CEO of the city of Americus, said that Lamb was on family medical leave and would be placed on unpaid administrative leave when he returns.