Killing of family dog unfolds on videotape (Dog shooter gets desk duty)

tennessean.com ^ | 1/9/03 | LEON ALLIGOOD

[Rebelbase]

Three minutes and seven seconds tells the story of a dog named Patton.

The dog, which was shot at close range Jan. 1 by a Cookeville policeman during a felony traffic stop, belonged to the James Smoak family of Saluda, N.C. At the time, the Tennessee Highway Patrol suspected the Smoaks

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

The dog was bouncing around. Perhaps one man's playful bounce is another man's menacing fear of death lunge, but that man shouldn't be holding a shotgun on a family of vacationers.

[Hatteras]

"This idiot that blasted the small dog, at a critical moment, could have easily triggered a volley of rounds into the *family member suspects*.If you watch the video tape, you can clearly see all the LEOS jump at the sound of the shotgun blast. This family was close to being killed."

I just reviewed the tape again and rewound it back about 20 times keeping an eye on different people in the clip and their reactions.

First thing that struck me was that in the grainy tape, the dog almost looked like a yellow lab jumping out of the car. It was a solid large dog, if not a tall one. As far as the size of the dog, keep in mind that as he approaches the camera, he is down in a ditch alongside the shoulder of the road. Look at him as he jumps from the car to get a better look at his size. Again, without a clear photo of the dog and a better description than a "Mixed-Breed Bulldog" we can not determine how much of a threat he was or wasn't.

Second, if you watch closely the two officer's cuffing the father do not react at all to the gunshot. The officer down low only reacts when the father reacts and the standing officer waits a split second longer.

The third thing I noticed was that if the shooting officer hadn't shot the dog, the cop standing next to him would have. He was reacting to a perceived threat by raising his weapon also.

The last thing I "hear" is what sounds like a growl cut short by the gun blast. I cannot say that is what I am actually hearing because there are other voices and road noise, it just sounds like that.

Another thing I noticed was that both the father and the mother (who was in the backseat) closed their doors without getting their heads blown off. The son (front passenger seat) didn't think to close his door. That is probably why the dog took so long to emerge from the car. He took a few seconds to realize the door was open and make his way up front to where he could get out. Please don't misunderstand, there are a number of things that were done wrong, by both family members and more significantly the police, that led to this. But after the dog gets out, I'm leaning toward the officer's acting in self-defence.

My problem with the police is that they acted on call from a citizen without any confirmation or evidence at all that a crime had been committed. I would think with what they had to go on they could have called the driver away from the car and explain to him why he was stopped. The episode would have ended right there. It's a shame.

[dljordan]

It had been reported that they were involved in a robbery.

[Rebelbase]

Poor performance on part of the LEO. Bad Judgement for not listening and closing the car doors.

How would you feel had it been your parents or children killed in a wreck caused by the dog bolting into interstate traffic?

10 to 1 you'd be crying negligence on the LEO's part if that had happened.

[from occupied ga]

It had been reported that they were involved in a robbery.

Was any effort made to verify this information? There was no robbery. No one came forth and said that they had been robbed. As near as I can tell some meddlesome busybody cooked up this story. NO evidence, nothing but the unsubstantiated claim of some jerk. This is going off less than half cocked.

[Stone Mountain]

Officer Hawn also had a previous "accidental" discharge, but luckily it was into a suspect who had only moments before committed suicide. And no, I'm not making that up.

Damn... Got a source? I'd love to pass that along...

[Hatteras]

"These people hardly fit the profile of someone who had just robbed a convenience store or committed a robbery."

What profile would that be that you had in mind?

[Lee'sGhost]

"Second, the dog was not agressive in my book."

I saw the video. THE DOG WAS WAGGING HIS TAIL.

[Joe Hadenuf]

First thing that struck me was that in the grainy tape, the dog almost looked like a yellow lab jumping out of the car. It was a solid large dog, if not a tall one.

I consider this to be a small dog. I have had 7 dogs in my life time. All were much larger than this dog.

Second, if you watch closely the two officer's cuffing the father do not react at all to the gunshot. The officer down low only reacts when the father reacts and the standing officer waits a split second longer.

I can guarantee you, when the officer pumped off that shotgun round, all those officers on the scene had a mental lightning bolt hit their brains. Everyone on the scene at that moment was in danger of multiple rounds being fired, The shotgun blast could have easily triggered a chain reaction. This has happened in the past, and will happen again. Once someone shoots, others are very likely to do the same. These people are lucky to be alive

I don't care how you chop it up, this looks pretty damn ugly. Innocent family, Mom, Dad and Kid, driving down highway minding their own business, gets pulled over, treated like hardened criminals, shotguns pointed at their faces, and their pet is blown away right in front of them.

There is something wrong here. Very wrong.....

[zoyd]

But after the dog gets out, I'm leaning toward the officer's acting in self-defence.

Do you shoot every stray dog you run across that jogs up to you with its tail wagging, you know, for self-defence?

If I were half as itchy with a trigger finger as that LEO, there'd be a lot of dogs dead from my 'self-defence' tactics in my neighborhood. Strangely, after having caught and returned well over a dozen neighborhood strays, I've never felt like my life was threatened by any of them, even the twin 100 lb. boxer/bulldog mixes that got loose from my neighbor's yard.

Following your logic, there'd be dog carcasses all over the place.

[Joe Hadenuf]

"These people hardly fit the profile of someone who had just robbed a convenience store or committed a robbery."

What profile would that be that you had in mind?

Check for yourself, look up the wanted in your area on the internet, and see if this family resembles someone that would hold up a greedy mart or commit armed robbery?

I can save you sometime. They don't fit very well.

[justshutupandtakeit]

There is more whining and anti-cop sentiment here than would be found at a RAT convention.

[Mr. Mojo]

I like dogs more than cops.

Yeah, but the latter makes better bacon ;)

[dasboot]

Yeah; but as felony stops go, this one wasn't graceful . Generally, the operator is first out, and retrieved--brought to the primary cruiser--then questioned before the occupants--hands showing--are removed. If these officers had followed that procedure, they may have been able to nip the cluster*** right there. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.

[zoyd]

There is more whining and anti-cop sentiment here than would be found at a RAT convention.

Maybe because blowing family dogs' heads off isn't the way we want our LEOs to behave.

[Stone Mountain]

Having said that, I also recognize that EVERY large barrel contains some bad apples -- and SOME cops are “cowboys.”

I don't doubt that the majority of police officers are not jack-booted thugs. However, until police officers stop lying and covering up for each other, I'm still going to view most of them suspiciously. You mentioned a bunch of good and honest cops who were helpful to you. Do you believe these same cops would hesitate to lie for a fellow officer? If the cops who were "cowboys" would be reported for their transgressions by their fellow officers, and punished by their superiors, you would see much less distrust of the police by the public. Until then, it seems very clear that the majority of police, even the good ones, see situations with an "us vs. them" mentality, and for whatever reasons - peer pressure or perceived loyalty or whatever - will not turn in a fellow officer, and will lie or "fudge" on reports beacuse they know that there will be no consequences if they do. And worse yet, if they don't, they will be made to suffer consequences by fellow officers standing behind the blue wall of silence...

[Joe Hadenuf]

I agree. This was a mess, and completely mishandled.

[af_vet_rr]

Was any effort made to verify this information? There was no robbery. No one came forth and said that they had been robbed. As near as I can tell some meddlesome busybody cooked up this story. NO evidence, nothing but the unsubstantiated claim of some jerk. This is going off less than half cocked.

This makes me thankful that TIPS didn't go through. Not that this crap will happen in the future, or get worse.

[Republic of Texas]

You're confusing anti-stupid cop with anti-cop. Easy mistake to make. No harm done.

[johnny7]

Ooooo you sound tough. I shoot every week.

No dogs bother me unless I get in their face.

A baton works wonders if used. This asshole blew its head off!

Go hide in the closet and wait for the cops junior. Good luck!