Former McNairy County Deputy Charged With Shooting 7 Dogs During Animal Welfare Check

Image Credit: McNairy County Sheriff’s Office & Canva

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

A former sheriff’s deputy in McNairy County has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly fatally shooting seven dogs during an animal welfare check.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports that 24-year-old Connor Brackin is charged with seven counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and eight counts of reckless endangerment.

According to reports, Brackin was sent to a home in Bethel Springs on November 4th to check on the welfare of several dogs. While one of the dogs was released to a neighbor, Brackin shot and killed the other seven dogs, allegedly stating that he was “cleared to put down the remaining animals safely by my supervisor.”

The sheriff’s department initially stated that Brackin reported the dogs to be in “extremely poor health.” Their report also claims that an attempt was made to find the owners and to locate new homes for the dogs.

However, the owner, Kevin Dismuke, says that is not true. 

“I got the veterinary paperwork in my truck from three weeks ago. They all had a clean bill of health on them,” Dismuke stated.

The TBI was called in to investigate and later issued a warrant for Brackin’s arrest. He turned himself in and was later released on bond.

He then resigned from the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, where he had been working for less than a month.

This is not the first shooting incident that Brackin has been involved in. Prior to working in McNairy County, Brackin was employed by the Jackson Police Department after graduating from the police academy in September 2022.

During his time in Jackson, he was investigated in two incidents, one involving a death in March 2023. The TBI was called in to investigate, but no charged were filed, according to 26^th District Attorney General Jody Pickens.

After remedial training and a probationary period, the police chief “found it was in the best interest of the community, the City of Jackson, and the Jackson Police Department to not retain Officer Brackin.” He resigned the following day.

He was hired in McNairy County just five months later.

“I don’t care what you do,” Kevin Dismuke said. “I don’t care if you give me $10 if you give me $10 million. You can’t replace my dogs.”