Re my post at #7. Being concerned about the numerous shootings of dogs all across the country by LEO, and because of the appearance this is some universal policy to shoot, and kill dogs I sent an email to an old friend of mine (Army buddy from the mid sixties) who retired a number of years ago from a major city Police Department. We had both joined back then, but I chose to go a different career. Following my question to him is his response, which seems quite clear to me:
My Question to him: “Article after article from locations all across this Nation we read about LEO arriving on scene at someone’s home, and Zippy the dog runs out the door, and the LEO pulls his gun, and shoots the dog dead, or LEO enters a person’s backyard through a closed latched gate, and encounters a dog, shoots, and kills the dog. It’s happening all over the country in towns, and cities in every State of the Union as though it’s an authorized, sanctioned policy.
Is it that you know of?”
Retired Police Captain’s response: “Nothing I have ever heard of, and I rather doubt it’s a sanctioned policy, sounds like a whole bunch of cops with itchy trigger fingers. Trust me, that’s a full blown officer involved shooting, and you never want to go through one of those.”
So now I wonder if it’s chain reaction sort of copy-cat type of act. One guy did it, and now his actions are being copied by LEO’s that should not have passed the test, or perhaps an attitude has evolved that needs to be addressed.
Have your friend read several articles documenting the phenomenon. If these officers were *not* acting with the approval/condoning of their commanding officers, they would not repeatedly commit and get away with such actions. (As a rule, these cases are *cleared* by “internal investigation” around the country).
At best, he is ill informed.
At worst, he lied to you and told you what you wanted to hear.