State police internal probe looks into shooting of dog

Pocono Record ^

[Chet 99]

By ADAM McNAUGHTON

Pocono Record Writer

November 14, 2009 12:00 AM A state police trooper's split-second decision last month to shoot a pet dog in Middle Smithfield Township has sparked an internal investigation into the incident and led the dog's owner to consider civil action.

A state police internal investigation has been opened to determine the facts surrounding the Oct. 27 incident that ended with a dog dead after it ran toward a trooper.

A trooper from the Swiftwater barracks went to the home of Roger D. Hauser around 6:30 p.m. to investigate a non-criminal matter. According to Hauser, his 9-year-old chocolate Labrador named Molly got out of the house and ran toward the trooper as he walked down the driveway to his parked car. The trooper shot Molly once in the left side of her abdomen and she died later at a veterinary clinic.

"My daughter sent me a text message the other day and said it just doesn't feel like the same home without her around," Hauser said. "It's still real emotional for me since she was my last dog after my other just died."

Hauser filed a formal complaint against the trooper the next day and an investigation will be handled by troopers outside the Swiftwater barracks, according to state police Cpl. John Vachino.

"The gentleman made a complaint and internally the state police is handling the complaint," Vachino said. "A higher authority within the state police will determine if the trooper was at fault."

While the investigation is ongoing, police will not comment on the circumstances of the incident but Vachino said on the night of the incident that the trooper felt he was threatened by the dog and that he was in danger. The trooper involved in the shooting is on active duty during the investigation.

Hauser said the trooper came to his home on Shady Hill Road to ask about paperwork for a firearm that his wife — who does not live at the home — had reported stolen. The trooper knocked on the door but Hauser was asleep and did not hear the knocking, he said. When he finally went to the door the trooper had walked almost back to his car that was parked at the end of the driveway near the street.

Molly was able to slip past him when he opened the door and run at the trooper, who pulled his handgun and shot the dog once.

"She ran back in the house, bleeding everywhere," Hauser said. "I had blood all over my house. She was real scared."

Since the incident neighbors have come forward to say the dog was never a threat to anyone in the neighborhood and that Molly's electric fence collar had trained her to stay in the front yard.

"I've lived on that street for 17 years and I've never heard of anything like this," said Mike Storm, who lives two doors down from Hauser. "They've always had friendly dogs and I've never seen their dogs leave the yard."

Hauser said this week that he has been in contact with a local attorney and he plans to seek damages against the state police for veterinary bills and other costs from the incident.

[Chet 99]

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

The law Enforcement War on Fido continues...

[org.whodat]

that his wife — who does not live at the home — had reported stolen.

LOL, TPT

[Eagles6]

That’s obviously a man killing pit bull, more dangerous than a great white shark.

[VeniVidiVici]

Yeah, Chocolate Labs usually put the fear of God in me too.

What a freaking moron.

[Darth Reardon]

“Molly was able to slip past him when he opened the door and run at the trooper”

I will never again make the mistake of naming a dog Molly. I didn’t realize at the time that it made them bat snot goofy. Fortunately, I did teach mine very early that dogs don’t go through doors until they are invited to do so.