HARTFORD — Court documents show Hartford officials have reversed position and now say they won’t pay damages that might be awarded against two city police officers in an upcoming trial over an illegal search that ended with an officer killing a family’s dog.
The move means the family may have trouble collecting damages if the officers can’t afford to pay them.
Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in federal court in Hartford.
Sgt. Johnmichael O’Hare says he was forced to shoot the dog when it ran at him and Sgt. Anthony Pia in Glen Harris’ yard in 2006.
Harris sued, but lost in a jury trial.
A federal appeals court overturned the verdict and ordered a trial on damages, saying the officers illegally entered Harris’ property without a warrant.
