Vernon police on Monday made public a portion of an officer’s body camera footage show the moments leading up to him shooting a dog that police said was aggressive.

The footage, about two minutes and 22 seconds, was posted on the department’s Facebook page in an effort of transparency, the department said.

“The incident is under investigation by the Vernon Township Police Department. The body camera footage in its entirety is being withheld due to privacy concerns and the ongoing investigation,” the post reads.

A spokesman said the officer killed the dog, later identified as Hiro, after he aggressively charged at the officer. The department did not immediately respond to further request for comment Monday afternoon.

The incident started Saturday when a person called police to complain about a dog growling and “running at large in the neighborhood,” police Capt. Keith Kimkowski said.

The video begins with Patrolman Emanuel Rivera talking with the person who complained of the aggressive dog, who explains to Rivera that he was scared and almost attacked. The man then shows the officer a photo he took of the dog.

Rivera then talks to neighbors next door about a “tan dog running around" before spotting nearby, in the street. He starts to walk toward Hiro before asking the neighbors if the dog bites. It’s unclear in the video how the resident responded.

As Rivera walks onto the street, Hiro is seeing running down a side road and lunging at the officer. While the dog is barking, Rivera pulls out his gun and yells “back up!” at the dog.

The video stops just before Rivera fired his weapon.

Rivera fired one bullet, Kimkowski said.

- Hiro, a rescue dog, allegedly growled and approached an NJ officer before the cop shot him, according to officials. Provided by Jenn HearonProvided by Jenn Hearon

Hiro’s owner Jenn Hearon said her dog was in the backyard, attached to a leash Saturday and did not know he had escaped when she suddenly heard the gunshot.

“We heard a pop and my neighbor was calling me saying my dog was shot,” Hearon told NJ Advance Media. “He is cheerful and happy and joyous, and I let him out to go to the bathroom, and the next thing you know he is dead.”

According to Justice Department guidelines on use of force when encountering dogs, “The use of a weapon is seldom required in dog-related incidents or encounters.”

“Lethal force is a last resort and rarely necessary. If lethal force is used, an investigation should be conducted, and it should include any other prior shooting incidents that the officer may have had involving dogs," the official booklet explains.

Hearon, who has lived in the neighborhood for seven years and adopted Hiro as a puppy, and has said she plans to talk to a lawyer about the incident.

She could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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