Posted on 06/16/2009 11:04:00 AM PDT by marktwain
"Killer" the miniature dachshund shot by a police officer. (Richmond-Times Dispatch)Police in Danville, Virginia are defending the fatal shooting and killing of an 11 year-old miniature dachshund, claiming that the police officer who shot the 12-pound dog, acted reasonably and in self-defense.
"Shooting a dog which is actively presenting a threat to an officer is within the department's policy," states a press release issued by Danville Police Chief Phillip Broadfoot.
The diminutive dog, who had the ironic name of "Killer", was known as a "sweet, mild-mannered dog," reports the Richmond-Times Dispatch.
"He just kind of walked up and down the neighborhood and didn't bother anybody," said neighbor Jenine Edmunds. "He was just a little house dog."
Killer and his family --- Tawalin Harper, his wife and two kids --- live on a quiet cul-de sac. "He was the security guard around here," Harper said, explaining that Killer would bark whenever a strange car entered the cul-de-sac.
How did the shooting happen?
Earlier this week, a police officer pulled into the cul-de-sac to serve two warrants to a neighbor. As the officer --- whose name the police department is refusing to release --- returned to his car, "he was surprised by a growling dog running through the yard directly at him from the rear, leaving him with just seconds to consider his options," reads the police statement.
Police Chief Broadstreet said the officer's options in that instance were to run to the squad car, distract the dog, or use pepper spray, his baton or his firearm.
After Killer, allegedly "lunged at the officer and attacked him," the officer decided to draw his gun and shoot the aging 12-pound mini dachshund. Apparently, the officer feared great bodily harm --- perhaps to his ankles.
Harper's children, who were inside the house, heard the gunshot and called their father, who raced home to find Killer laying on the ground "with his guts hanging out.“
According to NBC4i, the officer leaned against his patrol car, smoking a cigarette. He refused to give Harper his name and badge number and said "he had to shoot the dog because he was barking at him."
When the officer's supervisor arrived on the scene, the supervisor/lieutenant was very sorry. "“He kept apologizing," recalls Harper. "And he said I know apologizing can’t bring the dog back, but I just don’t know what to say.“
The Harpers remain devastated at the loss of the dog they have had and loved for 11 years. "He was a family member," says a bewildered and saddened Harper. "They took a family member away."
1. The cop truly felt his life and safety were endangered by a charging elderly miniature weiner dog. He is either an amazing coward, or retarded.
2. The cop felt like, “Hey, dept. policy will cover me in shooting any charging dogs. Target practice time!” In this case, he is a dangerous psycho, who should never have a badge and a gun.
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lol...
Or #3. The cop had a bad day, his wife is threatening to leave him, and his investments went to hell, so someone is going to pay...
How would I know? All I have is the info in the story, which may be true. I’m simply not going to assume it is. The good news is I don’t have to try to figure out what may have happened in order to reserve judgment in the case. For me to do that would be a silly waste of time.
fact from an article from the 'Pet News Examiner' section where they show a picture of the author holding a cute little puppy dog???
good lord! my only point was that it was within dept guidelines! you don't like em? try to change them. but i will tell you they do not differ from pretty much every other law regarding shooting dogs.
i'm sorry that i am dealing with hard law instead of emotion.
Well done, as I am sure you must have great reflexes because you could have drawn and fired accurately when the dog leaped at you and clamped down on an arm or your neck/face.
I withdraw my #78, with apologies. You’re still wrong, however.
Even simpler solution—kill all free roaming dogs.
Well stated.
I don’t count people I *talk* to online as people I know. I take what they say with a grain of salt. I have no way of knowing who is telling the truth and who is just blowing smoke up our collective skirts.
I know there are bad cops out there. I don’t believe all or even most of them are.
About enunciating your imaginary flaw of those critical of police.
ha! not a problem. i actually typed a silly name towards you on my last post that i erased at the last second.
“overreaction” is NOT a sufficient description of malpractice.
I really have no idea what you’re talking about. And I don’t have enough interest to go back and reread posts to try to decipher it.
You simply have no idea how silly your post is, and how very much it sounds like and mirror terrorists.
Punish the innocent, really?
Are you really that cruel?
Wait. . .don’t answer that. . . .I already know what lies in your heart.
Have a nice day.
bees are not domesticated in that same way dogs are. dogs are more dangerous than bees. there are laws that specifically deal with dogs, none that deal with bees to my knowledge.
a gun is useless against bees (see the movie 'Tommy Boy').
however, i might use pepper spray against bees. not sure how effective that would be though.
If the cop in question had a "wrong" reason for restraining that guy, then the "restraint" was illegal, and in fact would constitute assault, and therefore the guy had every right to resist being "restrained".
Cops are civilians, too. All things being equal, a police officer has no more right to restrain a given person than anyone else.
Why not join them and set an example for all to see and emulate. And if not, why not?
I dare you.
You're fooling yourself.
this action was not prohibited.
again, we are dealing with actual law here, not the emotion of dog lovers. well, at least i am dealing with law.
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