Kern County Under Fire After Deputies Accused of Killing Cat During Target Practice

On March 27, 2024, deputies at the Kern County Sheriff’s Hart Park shooting range in Bakersfield allegedly shot a cat that had wandered onto the field. Witnesses reported that the cat was not immediately killed but left suffering before it died.

Confrontation Recorded

Susan Bowen, who was at the park, captured a video of her confrontation with the deputies. While she did not record the actual shooting, her footage includes a conversation in which a deputy referred to the cat as “damaging the property.” Bowen questioned the deputies, asking, “What are you guys doing to the cat? You just shot it?” When one of them answered that the cat was “damaging the property,” she was visibly frustrated that the deputies had used the cat for target practice and hadn’t ended its suffering quickly.

Her anger was visible as she asked the deputies for their names while expressing her disbelief and disapproval of what they had done. In her Facebook post, Bowen describes how she saw the deputies approach and shoot a small cat, which was trying to escape. She notes that the cat did not die immediately and suffered before passing away.

Investigation and Response

Following the release of the video, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office initiated an internal investigation. According to LA Times, Sheriff Donny Youngblood confirmed that the deputies involved had been “appropriately disciplined,” but did not disclose specific details about the disciplinary measures. He also stated that the case is now closed and that the officers have returned to duty

Despite the internal actions taken, no criminal charges were filed against the deputies under California Penal Code Section 597, which addresses the malicious killing of animals.

Watch the video here: