Posted on 02/13/2006 6:21:43 PM PST by MRMEAN
Maybe the death of old Blu, a 1 1/2-year-old pit bull Richmond police shot to death in July, will not be in vain.
One thing is almost certain, though. It's going to cost the city a bundle.
The Police Department plans to take another look at its policy for handling threatening animals now that the Police Commission has ruled in favor of Blu's owners, Cynthia Peters and Mark Parr, and attributed the dog's death to deficient department guidelines for such situations.
The commission sided with the couple in their appeal of the Police Department's internal investigation, which found no fault with the three officers who shot Blu 11 times on July 27 while pursuing a suspect. The commission did not place any blame on the officers because it did not investigate their conduct -- though it should have.
The commission's ruling clears the way for a federal lawsuit claiming several violations of the couple's civil rights, and it would be folly for the city to challenge the case because a federal court has already told the city its policy is illegal. If recent legal precedent is a guide, Richmond had better get ready to pony up at least $500,000 to settle the suit.
At issue is a department policy that allowed Richmond police to enter a yard and shoot any dog they deem a threat, or let the animal out of the yard and then shoot it, and that's exactly what the three unnamed officers who killed Blu did.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I have seen some nice dogs , but I never saw one worth $500,000 dollars. Pay them what the animal was worth and get on with it. Better yet pay all Pit Bull owners what their animals are worth and put them all to sleep.These thing are more dangerous than a Claymore mine.
Let's see if you change your mind after the police break into your yard and kill something you love.
I keep what I love inside. I dont need an eating and crapping machine in the yard trying to eat my neighbors.
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