The New Castle Town Council is awaiting the results of an internal investigation before deciding what actions to take regarding the police officer who shot and killed a family’s dog Oct. 15.

The investigation is being led by New Castle administrative assistant Jim Stevens, said New Castle Mayor Bill Wentzel.

“He’s not a part of the police department,” Wentzel said of Stevens.

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A New Castle police officer shot and killed Jenny, a black Labrador mix, north of Silt after the Silt police refused to accept the dog into its pound on Oct. 15.

The dog’s owners, Tammy and Calvin Klein, admitted Jenny ran loose on Oct. 15 and did not have license tags, but said the police shouldn’t have killed their dog.

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Since then, the New Castle Town Council has discussed the shooting in closed door, executive sessions at least twice, Wentzel said.

Wentzel said the Town Council will release any information that is applicable to the case, based on advice from the town attorney.

“We’re trying to substantiate the facts, based on police information and other input, to see if proper procedures were followed,” Wentzel said.

Wentzel said he couldn’t comment on anything the investigation might have turned up so far.

The next Town Council meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 18, but the dog shooting is not on the agenda at this time, Wentzel said.

“It might be put on the agenda at a later time,” he said.

On a related note, staff of the Friends of the Rifle Animal Shelter said they were scheduled to meet with town administrators to discuss the town’s dog impoundment policy today.

“Jenny was adopted from the Rifle animal shelter,” said Nancy Jacobsen, the spokeswoman for Friends of the Rifle Animal Shelter.

Contact Lynn Burton: 945-8515, ext. 534

lburton@postindependent.com