Posted on 05/04/2010 2:36:04 PM PDT by JoeProBono
OKLAHOMA CITY -- For the fourth time in two weeks, investigators with the Oklahoma City Police Department are looking into an officer-involved shooting. This time the shots were fired in the Northwest part of town. Officers were dispatched to 3004 NW 18th on a domestic call just after 5 p.m. Monday.
They were familiar with the occupants since they had been to the home several times on similar calls.
They also knew there was a pit bull in the house who had shown signs of aggression in the past.
We're told when the officer approached the front door and the pit bull charged; the officer fired multiple shots.
One of the bullets ricochet and struck the dog's owner, Arlen Gibson in the chest.
Captain Patrick Stewart with the Oklahoma City Police Department says, "It did not break the skin however it did cause swelling and bruising to that area. He was transported an area hospital where he is listed in good condition."
The dog named Dozer ended up grazed by one of the bullets: it left a bloody gash in the pit bull's shoulder.
Kathy Fleming lives on the property and says she came out to see what was going on when she heard yelling.
That's when she saw the officer fire.
She says, "I'm sorry, whoever he is, I stand behind the police 100 percent, but when it takes them three shots to hit a dog that's less than 50 feet away, something's wrong."
Right now the dog's owner is not facing any charges for his aggressive animal, but that may change.
It's not clear if the officer will be placed on paid administrative leave during this investigation.
Not quite.
Had the other officer not been there, or been of the same mindset as the other one, there is no doubt in my mind my dog would have been shot and it would have been reported and written off as a "vicious dog attack".
And I would still be in prison.
There are some vicious dogs out there...I'm perfectly aware of that. There are also some trigger happy cops which nobody likes to admit.
Freudian slip.
It's not clear if the officer will be placed on paid administrative leave during this investigation.
Uhhh, I need to shoot your dog sir, could you hold him still for me?
Saw a Tampa article today, a 18 year old being chased by a police dog stopped and nearly killed the K-9 with just his hands. Is being charged with assault of a law enforcement officer. Funny, dogs can be shot if they're civilians with doubtful repercussions to the shaved apes.
No apparent affection between Siggy and the pooch.
I don't take any police report of a dog displaying aggression at face value.
It's too easy to judge normal canine behavior as aggression worthy of shooting.
It seems to me that often when police encounter a potentially dangerous dog, the police are in a situation where they need to advance into the dog’s territory, and are met head on by the dog.
I think that a device, about the size of a D cell flashlight, might be invented, that would contain an “instant muzzle”. A tough bag of material would be ejected from the device, and surround the dog’s head, then “constrict to fit”, to close their jaws, but still allow them to breathe.
This would be especially useful in confronting a large group of dogs, instead of having to kill each one.
Ok, the cops go onto someone’s property and shoot the dog when it charges them. Did they call ahead and tell the owner they were coming? or did they just decide they should shoot the dog. I hate leos that think they are God and can do whatever they want to the American public. This a**hat cop should be dismissed and his superiors also.
I thought that statement was a little fishy- seemed to me like something added to the report so the officer could seem to be justified since one of his bullets hit a person.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv0T2X1dXcI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFlWGeb_aw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h50TR3dWz0k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIAbnLKNVAo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Com08ILgQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca73iLBypTA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqu0dmMWPw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EfztqLMjJw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CQoJnZ2tI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y41HipWfbHc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmvudelfYcw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUdsd8xLOyg&feature=related
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-ca&fg=rss&from=&vid=cbcc2009-2312-2158-0050-136775694000
http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/playlist/727/889073?cpt=8&title=pavoldi_broadcast_local&wpid=311
if the dog is coming AT you... i'd wait till he was a little closer than 50' away
Sam treats police somewhat differently than regular people.
Maybe it's the uniform or maybe he picks up on the respect I'm showing the officers
for he always behaves calmly as if they are no threat to him or me.
My great fear is that someday a cop could mistake Sam's bark as "vicious behavior"
or Sam's run up to greet as "charging aggressively"
and shoot him right before my eyes.
There are many, many fine officers...it's the 0.5% that
have an attitude like that of a few on FR that scare me.
Cool dog. I do think you are on to something when you talk about your respect and interaction with officers. I often wonder in these situations if the dog owner is aprehensive about the police (likely for good reason)and that is telegraphed to the dog who reacts to protect the owner from the “bad” guy. I know in some situations LEO must shoot dogs in self defense, but I think many are getting ichy trigger fingers and really need to think about options other than killing a dog when possible.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.