Posted on 10/27/2013 1:55:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Officials in a Tennessee city said a police officer was fired for shooting his gun and using pepper spray in an attempt to get a squirrel out of a dollar store. Mountain City Police Officer Jody Putnam went to a Dollar General in Johnson County on a report of a squirrel running loose in the store and police department records state the officer fired off his gun in an apparent attempt to kill or scare the animal, WJHL-TV, Johnson City, Tenn., reported Friday.
"Shooting back there, of course that should not have been, that should not have happened," property owner Carl Duffield said.
Duffield said Putnam's gunfire did not get rid of the squirrel, so the officer then used pepper spray while customers were still inside the store.
"There was a lot of people that come out and just like me they came out and they were coughing and a hacking it was comical," Duffield said, "but I'm sure they didn't feel that way, the customers that came out."
Police records said Putnam refused to fill out a report, which is required when an officer fires a service weapon.
"Through a violation of the police department policy Officer Jody Putnam's employment, as a Mountain City Police Officer, was terminated by the Board of Mayor and Alderman," Mountain City Mayor Lawrence Keeble said.
Putnam had been with the police department for five years and had previously served with the Johnson County Sheriff's Department for 14 years.
The squirrel was later arrested on two counts of being a squirrel and suspicion of being a dog. The store owner was arrested on a count of accessory being a squirrel.
How else do you get rid of them?
“Look a’ the teeth, mon! The teeeeeeeeeth!”
Cops shooting great-grandfathers,
paintball teenagers,
pet dogs,
nutless squirrels,
what`s next?
19 years of law enforcement experience and this is what we get. Surprised he didn’t unclip the shotgun or AR-15 patrol rifle from his cruiser and don some tactical gear to go after the poor creature.
Wouldn’t a phone call to animal control have been a more appropriate police response?
It was lucky for the storekeeper and customers this officer responded so quickly and was able to confront the rampaging squirrel. God only knows what havoc this beast may have wrought unopposed.
The important thing is that the officer went home safely at the end of the shift, civilians and the public aren’t as important.
I ask them politely, and they always leave.
Or a .22 with a a scope.
Handgun? Not so much.
When the only tool you have is a pistol...
He’ll have a good career as a supervisor for some rent-a-cop agency
UR BAD to make up those graphics like that....
“Police records said Putnam refused to fill out a report, which is required when an officer fires a service weapon.”
Sounds like he wasn’t fired for shooting, but for not filling out a report.
“Shoot up here amongst us, because one of us needs some relief!”
He forgot to plant a "drop" gun on the squirrel.
Nuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
W#as it a pet store??? How are the dogs???
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