Excessive-Force Case Filed Over Lab Mix Who Dared to Sniff Police Dog's Butt

Seattleweekly.com ^ | January 11, 2011 | Nina Shapiro

[Immerito]

Police departments are perennially accused of excessive force--the poignant SPD shooting of Native American carver John Williams being just the latest example. Usually, however, the victims are human beings. Not so in an excessive-force case recently filed in federal court, which details the fatal shooting of a Labrador retriever mixed-breed dog named Slyder, allegedly for doing little more than sniffing the butt of a police dog.

[Immerito]

For additional information:

Dog owner sues Grant County, Moses Lake

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_5a39a794-1dcc-11e0-8ab9-001cc4c002e0.html

Man lashes out at police for killing dog

http://www.mynorthwest.com/category/local_news_articles/20100128/Man-lashes-out-at-police-for-killing-dog/?page=1

[Immerito]

For additional information:

Dog owner sues Grant County, Moses Lake

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_5a39a794-1dcc-11e0-8ab9-001cc4c002e0.html

Man lashes out at police for killing dog

http://www.mynorthwest.com/category/local_news_articles/20100128/Man-lashes-out-at-police-for-killing-dog/?page=1

[thecabal]

Those two reports are vastly different. If the first one is true, then the cop is indeed a coward, as well as a cruel bastard.

[Poison Pill]

the office concluded that Slyder and Maddox had been fighting, and that it seemed to Lamens as though Criscuolo's dog was returning for another round.

Concluded? Seemed? So he didn't know where his police dog had been? At a crime scene?

[skeeter]

Psycho cop needs to be riding a desk.

[Cicero]

Sniffing butts is how dogs say hello.

[Immerito]

Yep. Why on earth is this cop responsible for a dog if he doesn’t understand dog behavior?

[blackdog]

Seems like a case of meth rage.

I make it a point to stay away from places cops might tend to be around, either on a call or as a place to park or relax.

Someone shoots or is going to shoot my dog, I will have to intervene. It may not turn out well, but that's how it will go.

[ClearCase_guy]

A great many people feel like serfs, oppressed by a tyrannical government which tramples on our Constitution.
A lot of people are self-sufficient enough that they really have very little interaction with government agents -- they pay their taxes and seem to get very little for it.
A lot of people have interaction with the government only in the form of police officers. This interaction is costly or inconvenient more often than it is helpful.

I'm not sure how much the police realize that a lot of citizens really hate the police, seeing them as visible agents of a tyrannical government. And killing a man's dog is apt to really set someone off.

[AdamBomb]

I am so sick and tired hearing about these so-called police oofficers.cowardly shooting family dogs for reason whatsoever. “I felt threatened” bull$hit when a dog looks at them or barks three times. I guess the police force has been dumbed down the same way the military has in this country.

I’m really beginning to wonder if there are any good men left in the police force.

[Cyber Liberty]

I'm not sure how much the police realize that a lot of citizens really hate the police, seeing them as visible agents of a tyrannical government.

I'd wager quite a few of the smarter ones realize it completely, and enjoy the fear it puts into the little people. They enjoy the hate, too, because it gives them a convenient excuse for treating civilians like crap. "They hate us anyway, may as well shoot the dog as a precaution."

[blackdog]

I have no real tangible evidence, but this tactic has to be one deliberately taught in cop school. They would not be doing it if it wasn't.

It began with the Ruby Ridge Potts/Horriuchi dogs, mommy, and infant shootings at the Weaver place. Since then, it's standard cop MO in stand-offs, and no-knocks. They did it at Waco when they shot the dogs belonging to the sect. One by one, wounding them so they would scream and yelp for as long as possible. They shot the puppies one by one and then the mom dog.

Ironic that the end result for the people was much the same as the dogs. Remember that every time you hear or read one of these dog shooting stories. The next step is closer than you think.

[CodeToad]

Law enforcement is no longer that. It is now tyranny. We gave them special priviledges such as protection from assault but they have tuned that into if we so much as look at them we can be arrested and if our dogs smells their dog’s butt they can kill our dog. If we try to unbuckle our seatbelt that is mandated to be worn when told to get out of the car they can shoot us for “possibly reaching for a weapon”, as the FBI shot a kid in the face for doing just that and got away with it.

Cops have become nothing but revenue generators and report takers after the fact. We don’t need them in their current form.

[ClearCase_guy]

I have often wondered about certain aspects of cop training. For instance, the cop comes to my door, I open it, the cop sees my dog, shoots my dog. I calmly look at the police officer and say "Do you have a warrant? No? Then I can't let you in. But I'll be happy to step outside and speak with you -- but, first, will you excuse me? I'd like to go break the news to my wife about the dog. I'll be right back ..."

Is the cop trained to immediately start running at that point? Because he oughta.

[DannyTN]

"allegedly for doing little more than sniffing the butt of a police dog."

That's the equivalent of a person taking their picture. And yes, they would do the same thing to you.

[blackdog]

I'm comfortable with cops being report takers after the fact. That is what their job is supposed to be. Cops are not supposed to dispense justice, prevent crimes, or protect us in some old school rerun of Dragnet dogma.

Police are by constitutional construct, a reactive force to crimes committed, not a preventive force. And yes, that means their job is to fill out the paperwork when a crime has been committed. It's not their job to attempt to anticipate crime.

[goseminoles]

No. He will come in your house and detain you in the name of “officer safety”.

[blackdog]

You forgot that he has left your kids hogtied with restraints in the front yard to watch your dog bleed out and knocked grandpa unconscious. To gain control of the scene, ensuring everyone’s safety of course.

[blackdog]

Is it unlawful to take the picture of a police officer yet?

[blackdog]

Suppose you have external cameras set up to monitor all of your doors, sides of the house, and yard. It’s not uncommon today. It’s inexpensive and a very good security tool. If a cop comes onto your property, do you have to inform him/they that they are being recorded?