HOPEDALE – The Town Administrator and Police Chief are defending Hopedale police officers following an incident on Christmas Day in which officers repeatedly struck a possibly rabid raccoon with a police vehicle.
In a joint statement, town officials say officers were called to the area after the raccoon had attacked a person. They say officers observed behavior consistent with rabies and determined the animal posed an immediate threat to public safety. Because the incident occurred in a residential neighborhood, officials say officers could not safely discharge their firearms and instead used their cruiser to stop the animal.
Town officials also addressed complaints from witnesses who said the incident happened in front of children. The statement adds that officers involved have since been subjected to alleged harassment following the incident.
