Date of Offense
Statement
In March 2023, Chief Roshaun Daniels was suspended following an investigation into the extermination of several animals at the city dog pound. According to official social media disclosures issued by Winona Mayor Aron Dees, a newly appointed Animal Control Officer, Vidal Anderson, shot and killed multiple dogs being held at the municipal facility.
The executive findings indicated that Officer Anderson executed the destruction of these animals by gunfire, acting under a direct operational command issued by Chief Daniels. While the four dogs in question had exceeded the city’s mandatory 10-day holding period and the facility was at maximum capacity, the method of extermination ordered by Chief Daniels bypassed standard, humane municipal protocols (such as veterinary euthanasia).
This disclosure is made out of an abundance of caution and in adherence to constitutional obligations. The defense may evaluate this information regarding:
The issuance of a directive to summarily dispatch animals via gunfire within a municipal facility speaks to the officer’s professional judgment, adherence to humane standards, and administration of department policy.
The incident involves the issuance of an improper or highly controversial operational order to a subordinate officer, which resulted in a swift, adverse disciplinary vote (suspension) by the local governing body (Board of Aldermen).
The following underlying materials are available:
- Publicly released statements from Winona Mayor Aron Dees regarding the administrative inquiry (March 2023).
- Minutes or relevant public notices from the Winona Board of Aldermen vote ordering the temporary suspension.
- Media reporting/transcripts detailing the incident (WCBI TV, March 22, 2023).
The US Citizen Reporters are a group of public and private defense advocates that scour the internet for documented incidents of police misconduct that have eluded accountability.
