Personal responsibility means not letting your animals bother your neighbors when they get out, but getting up off the couch and going after your dogs. Also, it means training your dogs so that if they *do* get out, you give them a recall command so that they return.
the cop was following procedures. the procedures are WRONG.
i was attacked by a rottweiler a couple of years ago. the dog got loose from it’s little old lady owner who was walking it, came running at me full speed while barking loudly and aggressively. my first instinct was to run for cover, but there was none nearby. so i held my ground, stared at the dog as he approached, pointed my finger, and yelled “NO” in the tone of a dog owner disciplining a dog. this confused him enough to come to a stop a few feet away from me and glare/growl at me. after what felt like 30 seconds, that little old lady came and collected her dog. it wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience for me, but i wasn’t bitten and the dog didn’t die.
i suspect none of these cops ever even try such tactics. they have guns so they immediately go for the gun to shoot the dog in all circumstances. that’s wrong. very very wrong.
the police procedures being followed have to be changed and those responsible for writing them need to be fired.