The killing by police of family pet Patton has sparked an international furor

The Commercial Appeal ^ | January 15, 2003 | Richard Locker

[mel]

Democratic state Sen. Steve Cohen, got approval Tuesday to assemble a fact-finding committee to examine the shooting of a North Carolina family's pet dog by a Cookeville police officer.

[Wolfie]

Then, I read where this is the THIRD time the same cop has shot a dog.

That may or may not be excessive, depending on his usual duties. Shooting the dog is SOP on no-knock raids.

[dtel]

Cookeville is soon going to be called, Smoakeville.

[TankerKC]

One dead dog. And how many abortions here in Tennessee each day.

As near as I recall, you and I have been in agreement on most threads where we’ve posted, so I take what you say to heart. You have a good point, we do need some perspective on this. Here is one way that I look at it though: I comment on lots of things during a day (from finding the coffee pot empty to WMDs in Iraq and N Korea), but the fact that I on comment on any single topic doesn't detract from the relative importance or any other topic.

[Teacher317]

Now, let's be fair... while this camera angle is the same view that the officer had, the dog WAS waggin its tail in a menacing way, and it DID make a large circle that was heading straight towards him.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

And yet you read them.

I did? That's news to me. Actually, I got tired after ACTUALLY reading about 100 and went to read other items. Did you read this? I read the above. What I actually read is my business and is not known by you or anyone else.

[mel]

I know there was a call about a possible robbery, where was the call about a robbery, no one made a call about a robbery it was just a speeding car with money flying from it.

[mel]

oh that is funny

[BlackbirdSST]

Then, I read where this is the THIRD time the same cop has shot a dog. Sounds more like he owns a cat. Sounds more like he's just plain scared of dog's. Wonder what else in life freaks him out to the point where he can justify breaking out the 12 guage? Blackbird.

[Ken H]

Then again, think of just how much they can get from contributions.

If you're going to play the greed card on the Smoaks, then you are opening up the same thing for the cops.

For example:

Maybe when the THP heard about the cash, they saw an opportunity for asset seizure, and therefore made sure the original call got turned into a possible robbery/car jacking so they'd be able to do a felony stop.

And to be fair, let's compare how many times the Smoaks have brought lawsuits vs how many cash seizures have been made by the THP and Cookeville PD over the same time frame.

I don't think any of the above is provable or disprovable, but I wouldn't think that the defenders of this police action would want to open that can of worms.

[twigs]

It does look like this policeman overacted. However, I happen to agree with TN Bob. Reaction is over the top. And this man certainly does not have to be a "psycho" to react defensively. I was attacked as a child by a dog and put in the hospital by one as an adult. If not for penicillin, I would have died. Had I been carrying a gun, that could easily have been me. Hind-sight is another thing. I personally find it offensive that resources are being used investigating this when our country is at war.

[BlackbirdSST]

I wish that more people were alarmed at the continuing MURDER of THE UNBORN!!When are we going to get our PRIORITIES STRAIGHT? If this was an abortion thread, then perhaps you'd see that concern. When you're on a thug shoots dog thread, then you tend to see comments regarding that. Blackbird.

[Tennessee_Bob]

I don't think any of the above is provable or disprovable

What's provable is that they are seeking and accepting contributions for pursuing their case.

[johnny7]

Cookeville is soon going to be called, Smoakeville.

Whoooo doggies! 9 out of 10 cops are hacks.

They sit in the car and bust road violations.

Shotguns being drawn is not too good for these “officers”.

I have been pulled over for a seatbeat violation with a firearm on the seat. The cop never drew his pistol.

This family will go to the bank. Cookeville will remember the Smoaks. HA!

[Ken H]

What's provable is that they are seeking and accepting contributions for pursung their case.

Yes I know. They said so.

But what you wrote was not quite the same as a statement of fact:

"Then again, think of just how much they will get in contributions".

What are you saying with this statement then, if you were not saying that the Smoaks are motivated by greed?

[Ken H]

Here's a thread that deals with the original phone calls and discrepencies surrounding them-- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/822325/posts

[mel]

Thanks for the link, had not seen that. Very interesting information. Error upon error up error.

[cdw19390]

The police officer is an idiot. He provides ammunition for all cop-haters. (pardon no pun intended) I am a retired Pa.
State trooper, and a dog owner. The whole episode was a gigantic cluster F, they (all officers) involved should be ashamed.

[Ches]

After reading this account, a couple of things really stand out. Most important to me is the felony stop based on a flimsy report at best. No robbery reported? Second, is that the politicians no a good photo and soundbite opportunity when they see one. "We're going to have to look at special training for police to handle pets in these situations" (paraphrased), while avoiding the issue of why these people got stopped in the first place.

I also heard on the radio today as well as on this thread that this is his third dog. The really scary thing to me is, wasn't it Jeffrey Dahmer who started out with cats and dogs and proceded on with his human subjects? And isn't that a trait of many mass murderers and wackos? Practice, practice, practice.

[Ches]

Sorry. no=know. Yes, I'm a product of the public edukation system.

[mel]

Indeed, and I can honestly say it upset me enough when I got stopped (twice) for speeding and the cops treated me like a drug runner or something, i would be a basket case after experiencing something like this family did.