U.S. Mint cop shoots ‘aggressive’ pit bull near S.F. coin factory

Firefighters clean up blood left behind when a U.S. Mint police officer shot Blue, an 11-month-old pit bull, outside Blue's home near San Francisco's Duboce Triangle neighborhood on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Firefighters clean up blood left behind when a U.S. Mint police officer shot Blue, an 11-month-old pit bull, outside Blue's home near San Francisco's Duboce Triangle neighborhood on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Photo: Vivian Ho, San Francisco Chronicle Photo: Vivian Ho, San Francisco Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close U.S. Mint cop shoots ‘aggressive’ pit bull near S.F. coin factory 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

A U.S. Mint police officer shot and wounded an 11-month-old pit bull that had chased a mint employee and at least two other people outside the San Francisco facility that produces commemorative coins, authorities said.

The dog, named Blue, had bolted from his home near the U.S. Mint at 155 Hermann St. with another pit bull, Luna, at about 6 a.m., according to the dogs’ owner, Dirk Tacke.

Blue became “aggressive,” said San Francisco police Sgt. Ron Meyer. According to U.S. Mint officials, he “attacked” the employee, a woman with a cane, and then went after a homeless person and a jogger. None was hurt.

“Our police officer saw what was happening, responded, and fired his weapon and hit the dog in the leg,” said mint spokesman Tom Jurkowsky. “The dog somehow ran off and, from what we understand, went home.”

Jurkowsky said a staff of about 50 mint police officers patrols the area when employees are going to and from work. Blue was shot in front of his owner’s home, about a block away from the facility, leaving a blood trail leading back to his front steps.

City Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Deb Campbell said Blue was struck in the knee and was being treated by veterinarians. While he is expected to survive, “They may have to amputate the leg,” she said.

Luna, the other pit bull, was taken into custody by Animal Care and Control. Tacke, the dogs’ owner, at first thought a random stranger had shot his dog. When he learned it was a U.S. Mint police officer, he said he was upset.

While Blue may “act out like a puppy,” he said, the dog is not aggressive and has a habit of “hopping” at people when he wants to play.

“He doesn’t even know how to snarl,” said Tacke, 62. “He hops, he doesn’t run. He’s just a puppy. It’s like shooting a child.”

Authorities said they did not know if Blue’s actions would be deemed dangerous enough to warrant putting him down. Tacke said he would fight the decision if it came to that.

“He’s just such a nice, gentle animal,” Tacke said. “He has never hurt anyone.”

Jurkowsky said shootings are rare for U.S. Mint police. The agency chief could not recall the last time an officer drew a weapon, Jurkowsky said.

The officer has been put on light duty, as is protocol, and the U.S. Mint will be conducting two separate investigations, Jurkowsky said. San Francisco police are investigating as well.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo