Your Government Shot a Tail-Wagging Puppy and the Jury Said So — Then Let the Cop Walk Anyway

On the evening of April 10, 2021, New Orleans Police Officer Derrick Burmaster and his partner entered the gated yard of Derek Brown and Julia Barecki-Brown responding to a noise complaint. Burmaster made what he described as "kissy noises" to check for dogs and decided the yard was clear. It was not. Two dogs came down the stairs — a larger adult dog that barked and moved toward Burmaster's partner, who sensibly stepped out of the yard, and Apollo, a 16-week-old, 22-pound Catahoula Leopard rescue puppy who ran toward Burmaster wagging his tail. Burmaster, who later told investigators he feared the puppy would bite him in the genitals, fired three shots at Apollo with one hand while covering his crotch with the other. He struck the puppy in the neck and chest. Apollo's owner ran outside and held his dog in his arms as he died. What followed was four years of institutional cover and legal maneuvering that laid bare exactly how the system protects its own. Three separate internal investigations found the shooting unjustified and in violation of department policy. The Use of Force Review Board ruled unanimously against Burmaster. His own colleagues stated Apollo posed no threat and that Burmaster never considered alternatives — a kick, a Taser, stepping back — before opening fire. Court records revealed this was not his first time fatally shooting a dog. Department leadership then overrode all of it in the final internal review step and cleared him of wrongdoing entirely. A federal jury in June 2025 heard all of it, reviewed all of it, and concluded that yes, Burmaster had violated the constitutional rights of Apollo's owners and violated state negligence and property laws — and then awarded the couple $10,000 for emotional distress and $400 for Apollo's market value as a rescue dog, while granting Burmaster full immunity from personal liability because he was acting in his capacity as a government employee. Apollo's owners were also found partially liable for their own puppy's death.

PHOTO COURTESY DEREK BROWN

Commentary: A jury looked at every piece of evidence, concluded a police officer illegally killed a tail-wagging puppy while shielding his own genitals, and the punishment was $400 — the assessed market value of a living creature that a family described as the love of their lives. The officer faces no personal consequences whatsoever. This is not a broken system. This is the system working exactly as it was designed to work.

📰 https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2025-06-12/jury-finds-new-orleans-police-officer-who-shot-and-killed-puppy-violated-rights-but-has-immunity

⚠️ This content was researched and written with AI assistance and may be fully AI-generated. All facts are sourced from the linked AP/US News article and corroborating reporting from The Washington Times, Insurance Journal, and court records.