KENNER, LA — East Jefferson Levee District police have taken extreme disciplinary action resulting in the discharge and arrest of a reserve officer for having "failed miserably in his duties" (said Chief Rocky Daigle).

According to Chief Daigle, Lieutenant Paul Regan, a six-year reservist, was patrolling the levee on his bicycle in Kenner, LA at about 10am Sunday.

Snuggles, a white half-poodle and half-Bichon Frisé, broke from a group of children and ran after the officer's bike.

The witness accounts differ from Lt. Regan's description of what happened next, but inconsistencies in the officer's testimony led authorities to believe the witnesses.  Their account was as follows:

"Regan started to leave the dog behind, then slowed and pulled out his nightstick. The witnesses said Regan let the dog catch up and struck it once in the head, knocking the dog to the ground, as its owner, a 13-year-old girl, looked on in horror." (reports the Times-Picayune).

Snuggles was treated and released by a veterinarian for a swollen eye.

Lieutenant Regan told investigators that the dog was trying to bite him and that he hit the dog in self-defense, Chief Daigle said.

"This officer really failed miserably in his duties by not staying on the scene and calling his supervisor to let us know what happened," said Chief Daigle. "He took inappropriate action against the animal. It's inexcusable."

Lt. Regan was booked with aggravated cruelty to animals at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna and released on bond.

This digitally-enhanced photograph is designed to illustrate the extreme hazards presented to bicycle cops by the Bichon Frisé breed. The little troublemaker pictured at right is Max, a 17-lb. Bichon lap-dog with a bad haircut. Max is available for adoption at Small Paws Rescue.