Cop Involved In Newtown Bear Shooting Placed On Administrative Leave

NEWTOWN, CT — The local police officer involved in the shooting of a bear in Newtown has been placed on administrative leave, according to Ridgefield Police Department officials.

Police have not released the name of the off-duty officer connected with the incident which led to the death of "Bobbi," a Newtown neighborhood and internet celebrity, on May 12.

Law enforcement in Newtown and Ridgefield are not involved in the investigation, which is being led by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's own police unit.

"Additionally, this is a personnel matter which is under investigation internally," Ridgefield PD Major Shawn Platt wrote in an email.

An outpouring of sympathy for the bear's two cubs was putting the orphans at risk, according to Jenny Dickson, director of DEEP's Wildlife Division.

"We were seeing a lot of posts encouraging people to try and feed the cubs, and try and do other things that were well-intended but would have put them in a tough position," Dickson said during a news conference Tuesday.

The first cub was found, tranquilized and captured early Monday. The second was "successfully and safely" captured Monday evening by state wildlife agents, according to video posted on social media by DEEP Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble. They are being transported to the Kilham Bear Center, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility in Lyme, New Hampshire.

The cubs, about four-and-a-half months old, will be reintroduced to the wild when they are around eight months old, Dickson said.

Connecticut has banned the killing of bears, except in self-defense when someone believes the animal is going to kill or seriously injure a person. DEEP has not confirmed whether the Ridgefield officer was the shooter, or if the bear was shot on the officer's property.