This has to have become policy in many departments.
These reports have become routine, and in many scattered jurisdictions.
Yep. Which means there is a coordinated, national police policy of slaughtering family dogs whenever even remotely feasible.
To protect police? Hardly.
To enrage and frighten the population? How is such an effect avoidable?
The questions are, who wants that effect - and why?
I don’t know if it has become policy. I’ve seen video of cops taking numerous bites from attacking pit bulls before shooting. And I do believe that if an officer really feels he is in danger he should shoot the dog first and worry about it later. I feel the same way about an officer shooting bad guys. The important thing is to go home that night.
Cops have mothers, fathers, kids, dogs and cats just like we do. Many are animal lovers. I don’t know any cops that would automatically shoot a dog just because it growled at them and barked. But I tend to filter out creepy people in my life.
Just like teachers, boy scout leaders and priests that molest kids there are bad apples in any profession. The problem with this profession is that they are armed and dangerous when the brain isn’t functioning properly.
I’m more likely to wonder how well this police department screens their officers. Not all departments put officers through psychological screenings. I believe it should be mandatory. But that’s just me.
Even so, some nut jobs slip through the cracks. I would expect that. And I would also expect a full investigation and accounting of the event. With no coverup and consequences if the officer was found to have made a bad decision.
People also seem to forget that you have only a split second in most cases to make life and death decisions. There isn’t a whole lot of time to run a poll or debate an issue before you act. Doing so could end up with a dead officer.
Lots of people like to second guess the police. Most times when you are scared and the adrenaline is running you make the decision that seems to give you the best chance of survival rather than win you a popularity contest with the public.