Jury awards $1.26M to Glen Burnie family whose dog was shot by police

A jury awarded a Glen Burnie family $1.26 million Tuesday after deciding that an Anne Arundel County police officer wrongly shot and killed their dog in 2014, attorneys for the family said.

Attorney Cary J. Hansel called the shooting of Michael Reeves' dog, Vernon, by Officer Rodney Price "senseless, unnecessary and unconstitutional."

"The verdict sends a strong message to the police about ... community expectations," Hansel said in a prepared statement. "The duty to serve and protect extends to our animal family members as well."

Anne Arundel County officials declined to comment. In 2014, an internal investigation exonerated Price and found that the dog was aggressive. Price is still an officer with the department, according to a police spokesman.

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