A Cedartown police officer has been placed on administrative leave while authorities investigate the fatal shooting of HeeHaw, a miniature donkey whose owners say was a beloved member of their family.
The shooting happened in Polk County while officers were searching for a missing 12-year-old. The child was later found safe near a church in the area, according to local reports.
HeeHaw’s owners said police entered their property near Grady Road during the overnight search. Their account says an officer first used a Taser and then fired a weapon at the donkey. The exact sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the officer’s decision remain under investigation.
Family and community seek answers
The family says the 1-year-old donkey had been bottle-fed and regularly appeared at petting zoos and nursing homes. They described him as gentle and deeply connected to the people around him.
Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome said the department is heartbroken over what happened. The department opened an internal investigation and requested assistance from the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s law-enforcement division.
Placing the officer on administrative leave is not a final finding of wrongdoing. It keeps the officer away from regular duties while investigators collect evidence, review policy and determine what happened.
The case has drawn widespread attention online, with supporters calling for transparency and accountability. Any official findings or disciplinary decisions will come after the investigation is completed.
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