Ontario police ‘taking matter seriously’ after video shows officers striking deer with axe

The Ontario Provincial Police have issued a statement on how one of their officers killed a wounded deer with the blunt end of an axe.

The OPP have said this is not the way officers are trained and have called the incident disturbing.

“Our officers are often required to take difficult actions as part of their duties,” the police force said in a statement on Saturday.

“The euthanasia of an injured animal is one of them. We want to provide reassurance to the public that we are taking this matter seriously. We are actively and thoroughly investigating the incident to gather all the necessary facts that influenced the circumstances.

“We remain committed to upholding the trust and confidence of the communities we serve. We will continue to strive to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, compassion and respect in serving the Province of Ontario.”