Officer Cleared For Shooting At Tiger

Wed., Aug. 23, 2000

From Staff

Police investigators exonerated Sgt. Rich Schnebly of any wrongdoing in his involvement in a tiger attack Aug. 11.

Jan Gold of Boise was mauled by the 600-pound Amur tiger during the annual “Feast for the Beast” event.

Schnebly fired his gun near the tiger in an attempt to scare it away from Gold. One of the bullets ricocheted off a steel gate handle and into one of Gold’s legs.

The Boise Police Office of Internal Affairs determined on Tuesday that Schnebly did not violate department policy when he fired the gun. The police manual states that officers may use deadly force when necessary to defend themselves or others.

“Sgt. Schnebly was faced with a situation which clearly meets the criteria,” Internal Affairs Lieutenant Mike Worley in a press release said. “Ms. Gold was being attacked by a wild animal several times her own size. Sgt. Schnebly observed the tiger inflicting injury to Ms. Gold’s head and shoulder area.”

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Officer Cleared For Shooting At Tiger

Jesse Tinsley

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