Posted on 07/27/2011 1:55:45 PM PDT by Immerito
DAYTON, TX (KTRK) -- Residents in a Dayton neighborhood say they are still in shock after hearing that someone shot and killed a dog that was loved by nearly everyone.
The incident is a real blow to residents. Fred -- a four-year-old black Labrador -- had a family, but it seems everyone in this close-knit community loved him.
Hope Havard was Fred's owner, but he wasn't just her pet. Fred was known to roam the streets of the neighborhood, and Havard said her neighbors treated him like a member of their own families, too.
"He was a really good dog. He liked playing fetch a lot," Havard said. "Everybody loved him and, like, everybody knew him and he knew that he was going to protect everybody."
Last Thursday, the unthinkable happened.
(Excerpt) Read more at abclocal.go.com ...
“Finally, I was a cop for a short period so I know how they operate. That’s why I quit. I didn’t want to go around beating people for “not respecting” me.”
It’s truly a shame when the Good Guys don’t want to be police officers and the Bad Guys are kept on the force and protected.
Thank you for serving.
Yep.
This is an interesting coincedence, because I had a conversation with my friend in the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. last Friday over a few beers after softball. The conversation was about a a mutual college friend who is a cop in a small town (to remain nameless). Our friend has been suspended for shooting a dog because he felt threatened (it was a very small dog). Prior to this incident, we had always been amazed that this guy was not only hired by, but was still working for ANY LE Dept due to the fact that he was rejected by the LAC Sheriff Dept, LA City PD, OC Sheriff, and every other LE Dept in So. Cal. In addition, the sheriff depts of Maricopa, Pima, Mohave and Pinal counties in AZ also rejected our friend (Granted he wasn’t really a friend, but a former roomate and teamate from college).
Our conversation boiled down the the fact that small towns have LOWER BUDGETS, LOWER QUALIFICATION STANDARDS and LESS MONEY TO SCREEN APPLICANTS!
This means there is a smaller and lesser pool of “qualified applicants” that are willing to accept significantly less money.
As a current LEO with 25 years of experience, my friend believes that many of the applicants for such a position in small town are people that can’t get hired in a big city because they can’t pass the extensive background check and/or psychological screening. Thus, small towns get more than their share of “bad apples”.
However, he’s quick to point out that none of this means that there are not plenty of rejects in big city departments. Rather it means there is a higher probability of running into a jerk cop in a small town than a big city.
FWIW...
And some folks are just plain scared of Caucasians, Christians, Mexicans, Blacks, cats, monster trucks, and things that go bump in the night. Irrational fears do not, in and of themselves, justify deadly force.
Immerito does far less to stir up cop hatred than do the officers who shoot family pets. Perhaps your beef should be with them.
Agree. It's best to secure your pet, though.
OK, I just read the story. I am an avid bicyclist and have had run-in’s with dogs. I would only shoot a dog if it was one I had repeated run-ins with and the owners did nothing AND I feared for my health.
The first time I would hop off the bike and try to make friends unless it was “going pit bull” on me. Then I’d use my mini-baseball bat.
I did notice in the article that the dog “roamed the neighborhood. That is a huge no-no pretty much in all non-rural areas. The dog could get killed, as this one did.
Seems to me this dog had been pretty secure within the neighborhood for the last four years. Then officer friendly showed up.
Law enforcement really needs rethink their policies towards dogs and do some retraining. That kind of violence begats violence...
Cleared by an internal investigation?
Or cleared by an investigation by an external body?
Which one?
People’s opinions of cops are influenced by the behavior of cops themselves, the same as with any other profession. Good teachers, cops, engineers, construction workers are respected and regarded for their character and work.
Bad teachers, cops, engineers, construction workers, etc. also make themselves well known for their character and work.
It is unfortunate that you find an article about good cops unthreadworthy—they could truly use the exposure.
It is equally telling that you are threatened by the exposure of bad cops.
Responsible men are not threatened when irresponsible men are held up for public shame and ridicule. Irresponsible men are threatened because reading about irresponsible men reminds them of their failure to take responsibility in some form or fashion.
Honorable men are not threatened when dishonorable men are held up for public shame and ridicule. Dishonorable men are threatened because reading about dishonorable men reminds them of their own dishonor.
So why is it that Berlin_Freeper is bothered by the existence of a thread about one bad cop—who decided to unlawfully destroy another man’s property in a state that has high regard for the private property of all citizens (cops or otherwise)—and not bothered by the cop’s actions?
Problem there is the dogs are usually in their own backyards or homes.
Read the item. There was an investigation and physical evidence of an attack.
Then justify these remarks in this thread:
- America’s “Law Enforcement.” Beating & killing citizens every day....and our dogs!
- They’re lucky the cop didn’t kill any of the family which happens all too often.
- If they’ll shoot a dog for no reason they’ll shoot a human for no reason. And they’re all looking for an excuse to use their tazer.
Those are just a few.
If you were actually worth a dollar you could be sued for posting:
“So why is it that Berlin_Freeper is bothered by the existence of a thread about one bad cop—who decided to unlawfully destroy another man’s property in a state that has high regard for the private property of all citizens (cops or otherwise)—and not bothered by the cop’s actions?”
By the policeman who was investigated and cleared.
There is almost always an "investigation" And the officer(s) involved are ALWAYS cleared no matter if they shot a dog, a child, or someone walking down the street. They always seem to follow "departmental procedure." which appear to be remarkably flexible unlike laws that the rest of us have to follow which aren't all that flexible.
Back in the 70’s in our suburban Long Island, NY town our German Shepherd named Duke would hang around the house without fence or chained up. He was friendly to the neighbors, kids and even the mailman. He knew how to kick rival dogs butts when necessary at times. 9 years he lived a charmed, free life until cancer claimed him. Now way these days could Duke roam free and safe like yesteryear. Best dog EVAH!
Charlie is now back with his family.
No charges have been filed and Liberty County Sheriff’s Office investigators said marks on the officer’s shoes seem to match up with his story.
###
Of course that’s what in-house “investigators” are going to say. Every town should have an independent civilian review board with full time investigators and subpoena power to look into these cases.
There has been an *internal* investigation and the officer has claimed that marks on his shoe were the result of this encounter with this dog.
That might hold water if he could demonstrate that those marks were not on his shoes prior to this cop discharging his weapon and killing a thirteen-year-old girl’s dog.
If an external investigation demonstrates that the cop was justified, then I will publicly apologize to the forum.
Until then, you are equally biased in assuming that the word of the State is the final word on the subject.
A cop who is scared of a Labrador (per his own admission) lacks the balls to do his job. He should be laughed off the force by every good cop in Dayton, and his job should immediately be posted as available.
A scuffed shoe? You have to be kidding, right? There's far more evidence of an attack on the dog.
"Then justify these remarks in this thread..."
If the (scuffed) shoe fits, the cops gotta wear it.
Thank you for confirming that you continue to be bothered by posts chastising a dishonorable and irresponsible cop.
Why should a cop who is frightened of a Labrador be allowed to continue his duties on the force?
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