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

[Republic of Texas]

Just because we criticize THIS cop doesn't mean we hate ALL cops. You know that, but conveniently forgot. Hey, it happens. Cops have no better friends than conservatives, but there are some BAD and/or STUPID cops. If WE on the right don't keep watch over our Constitutional freedoms, NO ONE will. This cop was stupid, and probably LIKED hearing the family beg him to shut the door. This whole event was stupid to begin with, and if SOMEONE in LE had asked a couple of pertinent questions, it never would've happened.

Sorry, you have not cornered the market on supporting cops.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The son (front passenger seat) didn't think to close his door.

The teenage son was being ordered at gunpoint to exit the vehicle. He was reasonably afraid that any surplus movement might result in getting shot. So that's his excuse for not closing the door. The officer who had his hand on the door as he looked into the car and commented that there was a dog inside, had absolutely no excuse whatsoever for not closing it.

[dasboot]

Training for felony stops includes the instruction that no exiting occupant closes the door through which they exit. And acknowledging the fact that one reverts to training in stress situations, this may account for the inflexibility in the officers' thinking when faced with the K9 containment issue.

What troubles me most about this whole thing is the lack of humane concern for the welfare of the family: from what I understand from glossing the stories is that there was no effort made--both to curb liability and to express genuine campassion--to make things right.

I think it would have been prudent to have an ambulance called to the scene to assess the physical and emotional status of the family; I'd have had a DPW unit, or a dog officer, respond to transport the animal; I'd have gone a long way in making sure these folks were provided access to any and all services necessary for their comfort. Heck, I'd have called a minister for 'em and put 'em up at my home. Then I'd call the freekin' mayor to make sure the whole town turned out for the doggie's funeral: police honor guard and all. Call it compassion and taxpayer-protection.

In sum, a whole lot could have been done that was apparently overlooked.

[justshutupandtakeit]

And maybe it is because of knee-jerk anti-cop feelings which is illustrated time after time when cops take actions.
Generally its criticize first find facts later (if at all.)

Many of the gangs up here have monstrous, vicious "family" dogs protecting their pads. I don't whine about it when the cops put them down in the course of doing their duty. I have seen no evidence that this is not what these police officers were doing. Didn't sound like this was a chihuahua or harmless dog.

[Republic of Texas]

What kind of dog was it?

[Republic of Texas]

The citizens will pay first (literally), then I hope, the elected officials if they cover this up or let this guy off easy.

[NittanyLion]

Many of the gangs up here have monstrous, vicious "family" dogs protecting their pads. I don't whine about it when the cops put them down in the course of doing their duty. I have seen no evidence that this is not what these police officers were doing. Didn't sound like this was a chihuahua or harmless dog.

Do these people appear to be gang members to you? Does the dog appear vicious?

Your reflexive defense of cops is coloring your judgment. Again.

[PLOM...NOT!]

Except the dog was NOT snarling. It was bouncing around, wagging its' tail when it bounced up to the officer and got its' head shot off. Monday morning QB my A**, look at the video! That cop is dangerous and should be released from duty.

[justshutupandtakeit]

It was described as a mixed breed bulldog whatever that is.

[dasboot]

Well, had I been the shooting officer's place--and I acknowledge that the stop was poorly supervised and out-of-control--I too would have shot the dog. I don't think the officer had much reasonable choice at the time, things having decayed to the point they did.

I, rather , think the responsibility lay with the on-scene supervisor or senior officer.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I will trust LEOs until they are shown not to deserve that trust unlike the chorus here ready to condemn them on no facts no matter what. Again. Few threads show any respect for the law or which indicate any regard for the miserable @$$holes the police must put up with on a daily basis.

As I said there is more whining and anti-cop sentiment here than at a PUSH convention.

[Republic of Texas]

You mean YOU DON"T KNOW FOR SURE? Gosh, this:

" Didn't sound like this was a chihuahua or harmless dog. "

...sure makes it sound like you do. So what does a "harmless dog" or "harmful dog" look like? The family, the people who owned the dog, said it was a Bulldog. An extroidinarily friendly breed. The LEO's, the people who now need to justify killing the dog, said it was a Pit-Bull mix. Kind of a catchall, don't you think? Wonder who knows best?

[SerpentDove]

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

But there was no robbery, innocent people were yelled at, put on the ground, and the family dog shot to death, all in front of children.

If this isgood police work in your eyes, I guess we just have different expectations.

[American Blood]

Perhaps you should re-read this thread. Plenty of the cop-haters posting on this thread have made it quite clear that their contempt for the men and women in blue does not stop with just THIS cop.

And how convenient of you to assume that the canine killer "probably liked hearing the family beg him to shut the door". Got any evidence to prove this or maybe this is just how you hoped it went down huh? Maybe you should do a little more homework and stop talking out of both sides of your cop-hating mouth.

Perhaps one day you'll be put in a position where your life or the life of one of your loved ones hinges on the honor and duty of a POLICE OFFICER. Perhaps then you'll begin to see that the classless generalizations put forth about POLICE OFFICERS on this thread are disgusting and uncalled for. You know what? No matter how much all you cop-haters spew venom towards these brave people, they will still be there to protect you when the time comes. It's call honor, bravery and duty, apparently something you know little about.

For the record, as I stated earlier, this canine-killing cop most likely, excuse the pun, jumped the gun. And I would be a pissed off camper if it happened to my family. But it would not cause me to have contempt for all cops because that is just a plain ignorant stance for one to take, considering the fact that most all POLICE OFFICERS put their lives on the line every day so you and I can live without fear.

[mel]

That is right if he is scared for his life by a dog not even growling, he certainly does not need to be in law enforcement.

[Republic of Texas]

I don't have contempt for all cops. I have great admiration for them as a group. I have contempt for THIS cop. In every group, there are lowlifes. This guy showed himself during this incident. And yes, I did surmise about his motives. Next time I'll put the </sarcasm> tag on it for the sarcasm impaired. You, BTW, are committing the same sin you accuse the "cop haters" of committing. You are generalizing that if a person criticizes THIS cop, they hate all cops. You can make your point without being a hypocrite. Or, maybe you can't.

[NittanyLion]

I will trust LEOs until they are shown not to deserve that trust unlike the chorus here ready to condemn them on no facts no matter what.

This video has already shown just that. Yet you continue to defend them. It makes one wonder if anything the police do would meet your threshold for condemnation.