Some of the most dangerous work that police officers do is responding to domestic calls. In one such call last week SAPD police officers were surprised when a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois named Max came bounding out of the house right at them.
The police response is now being hotly debated as the officers opened fire on the poor dog. According to the dog’s owner, Luce Vega, the officers shot Max four times and struck him with a baton after the dog exited the family’s property during a police response to a domestic dispute at her home on Orange Avenue on July 30.
Community advocates are now predictably demanding transparency, accountability, and policy reform from the Santa Ana Police Department. The case is under investigation but these so-called advocates always demand action before the investigation is complete.
Vega said Max never showed aggression and that he loved kids. But how would the police officers have known this?
By her own admission the dog was “hyper.”
A driveway gate at the home was left open, and security video allegedly showed Max running out toward the officers. The police officers quickly opened fire on the dog.
Santa Ana families should really think twice before they call the SAPD about a domestic disturbance. If police officers respond it should be noted that they are not trained to wound. They are trained to shoot to kill.
Remember you can always call 211 if someone in your family is having a mental issue. Calling 911 may have a fatal outcome for your family member!
Domestic calls in Santa Ana often revolve around alcohol abuse and ensuing violence towards women. Yet our city continues to have the most alcohol licenses in Orange County and our County Supervisor’s family made their fortune running seedy bars and dance halls targeting immigrants, who often abuse alcohol.
While not the top cause of officer fatalities, domestic calls are among the most dangerous due to their volatile and emotionally charged nature:
- FBI data from 2012–2021 shows 19 officers were killed during domestic violence calls, out of 504 felonious deaths.
- In 2016, 22% of firearms-related officer deaths were linked to domestic disputes.
These calls are unpredictable because:
- Offenders are often on their home turf.
- There may be weapons, drugs, or alcohol involved.
- The emotional intensity can escalate quickly, especially when police are seen as a threat to the offender’s control.
Santa Ana police have not released body camera footage.
When they do we can verify what the dog’s owner said, that the injured dog ran under a car and when it came out in response to her voice the officers shot it again.
The family may well end up suing the SAPD and the City of Santa Ana. But they were the ones who had a domestic disturbance. They let the dog run out of the house at the officers. The outcome is awful but the dog owner and their family certainly contributed to this tragedy.
Cooler heads should prevail and we ought to wait for the outcome of the investigation before we start attacking the police officers for doing their job and acting to prevent injuries to themselves.
Ironically the Malinois breed is often used in police, military, or protection work due to their intelligence and trainability.