On Sunday, August 30, a police officer in Cedartown, Polk County, allegedly shot and killed a donkey owned by local resident Hannah Israel. The incident has left Israel devastated, as she referred to the animal, named HeeHaw, as her “son.” Israel expressed her heartbreak over the loss, highlighting the deep bond she shared with the donkey.
Because of the nature of this investigation, neither the Cedartown Police Department nor any other city department can comment further on the matter at this time.” Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome said that command staff launched an investigation into the shooting . It confirmed that the incident took place while officers were searching for a missing child.
The City of Cedartown said in a social media post that “the Cedartown Police Department is aware that a city police officer shot and killed a donkey in the early hours of Sunday morning. Thankfully, the child was later located at a church near the pasture where the donkey was killed,” it said. The unidentified officer was placed on administrative leave . “A Cedartown police officer was on the scene after being called by Polk County Police to assist with a nighttime search for a missing child. The child had not been found at of the time of the shooting. The statement added, “The Cedartown Police Department has turned over the investigation of the animal shooting to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division for investigation and placed the officer involved on paid administrative leave while this investigation is ongoing.
An active investigation is underway.
