The Lodi Police Department is responsible for ensuring our community’s safety and acting in accordance with standardized training, policies, and the law.
March 17, 2023
A Message from Chief Sierra Brucia
The Lodi Police Department is responsible for ensuring our community’s safety and acting in accordance with standardized training, policies, and the law. It is my responsibility as the Chief of Police to ensure we meet these obligations and to hold our employees accountable when they do not.
Today, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office released their findings regarding Enzo, the Husky that died after being tased on January 24th, when we responded to a report of an aggressive dog. The District Attorney’s Office has determined that no criminal charges are warranted.
In addition to the District Attorney’s review, an internal affairs investigation was initiated. The internal affairs investigation is ongoing and independent of the criminal investigation. The purpose of the internal affairs investigation is to determine if there are any training or policy violations that occurred during this incident. This process will also provide us with the opportunity to take an introspective look into our training and policies regarding our response to animal calls.
An objective and thorough internal review is a lengthy process. That being said, we are not obligated to wait for the completion of our internal review to implement additional training. We are enrolling our personnel in training provided by The Humane Society of the United States so that we can have a better understanding of our role while responding to these calls.
The Lodi Police Department is also purchasing additional equipment that will assist our personnel to safely, adequately, and appropriately respond to animal calls for service. Additionally, we are reviewing our Taser and Animal Services policies to ensure they continue to meet not only best practices but the law.
I want to personally thank our community for their patience throughout this process. I would also like to acknowledge those who reached out to express concerns regarding Enzo’s death. We remain committed to ensuring that our actions accurately and appropriately reflect the values of our department and the expectations of our community.