But as I see the video (102), the dog looks to me (as I said) to be pretty much in the cop's lap when he shoots. Othrwise, check #140, if you haven't already.
Dan
I checked the video. It was rather inconclusive - however, my impression is that the dog was not behaving in an agressive manner. I own a very protective malamute/shepherd mix, and if she thought I or my wife were being threatened, she would not amble out of the car, she would be going full-speed in a line for the person's throat. That dog seemed to be meandering around - not the mark of a dog wanting to attack someone.
Whoop-de-freaking-doo.
I've had countless dogs "pretty much in my lap". That's what friendly dogs do. Not once was I pansy-ass enough to think that having a dog approach me was a threat to my life which necessitated blowing the dog's head off "just in case".
There's absolutely no justification for your claim that the dog "attacked" the officer, and if you think mere proximity proves an "attack", you're as clueless as the loose-cannon cop -- and should be kept equally far from lethal weapons and positions of authority.
Jobs on the police department should be limited to those people who are bright enough to be able to tell the difference between a dog "attack" and an approaching dog -- and who would be able to deal even with an attacking dog in a more sane manner (the pepper spray that all officers carry works wonders on dogs).
Instead, the officer was clearly acting on a "woo baby, I get to kill somethin'!" level. Give him twenty years flipping hamburgers to think it over, where he can't hurt anybody if the makes another stupid judgement call.