Puppycide in Oklahoma

Note:  Video includes actual footage of the dog getting shot.

Comments

[New World Dan]

God damn it Balko, I'm not watching that. Save that crap for later in the day when I'm already in a bad mood.

[xx]

thats like a bad snuff film.

[Nigel Watt]

I'm not watching that either. Just more proof that if there were good cops, they'd arrest the bad ones.

[Gabe]

Great job Balko. All the cops trying to cover up the incident are guilty of dog murder too.
I bet $100 she has now gotten threats from criminal cops to shut up. Please interview her and show her talking about the threats.

[Elemenope]

I'm perpetually surprised there hasn't been a case of an officer getting offed because he killed someone's favorite pooch.

Or, failing that, I'm pretty shocked that a little kid hasn't gotten shot while protecting his or her favorite pooch.

[Gabe]

I have to admit I'd be tempted to kick that dog, but only a true criminal mind would shoot the dog.

It reminds me of the cop who pulled a gun on me when I was trying to keep some privacy for my wife who was breastfeeding our baby in the back seat.

[Lamar]

If dogs are man's best friend, then we have proof that cops are not men.

[miche]

That cop should be shot.

[TallDave]

Clearly the moral here is that only the governmemt should be allowed to have dogs.

[Why Certainly]

Grrrrrrr!!! I live an hour and a half from OKC. I'd like to see the tape in slow motion and closer up so that we can tell whether the dog's tail is wagging even if it was barking, not that it really matters either way. Talk about a pre-emptive strike. Damn.

[X]

if dogs make you fearful for your life, perhaps you just don't have enough personal courage for a career in law enforcement.

[R C Dean]

No video at workee. What kind of dog, and what capital offense did it commit?

[miche]

Hey Nigel,
Here's a funny cop story from DMN. Has to do with suspected burglar raccoon getting tazed.

[mike]

This sorry SOB wasn't even there on business, he stopped to ask directions and shot this ladies dog in her yard. I feel safer knowing quality guys like this are on the job. What a worthless sack. I hate people.

[X]

RC, some kind of poodle. the cop was fearful of a poodle.

[Gabe]

RC Dean,
I'm not sure what kind of dog it was, but it was pretty cute and cuddly looking. It was not a bull dog of any type and it was not a doberman or anything like that...some kind of sheep dog mutt I think.

[gabe]

ya it did look like a poodle...like a 3/4 poodle 1/4 sheepdog. I've seen scarier looking swans.

[Elemenope]

That cop should be shot.

A kneecap would suffice. One need not stoop *all the way* down to the moral level of cops.

[Elemenope]

I've seen scarier looking swans.

Don't even kid about that. I've seen a swan fuck a guy up pretty good.

[Jeff Foxworthy]

if a poodle makes you shit your pants and start shooting wildly, you might be an Oklahoma deputy sheriff

[Robbie]

Always have to ask "What would the consequences have been if I did that?" If I pull up to someone's house to ask directions, armed, their dog runs over, and I shoot it, what then? I can say it was trying to kill me and that's that? I highly doubt that. And these people are supposed to be the ones *trained* how and when to use guns.

[miche]

Kneecap? Then the bastard will go off on disability. It would be cheaper to pay for the funeral.

[Kool]

"It's comin' right for us!"
"mmmm, it's coming right for us."

Fucking sack of pig shit.

[Oklahoma LEO]

Always have to ask "What would the consequences have been if I did that?" If I pull up to someone's house to ask directions, armed, their dog runs over, and I shoot it, what then? I can say it was trying to kill me and that's that? I highly doubt that. And these people are supposed to be the ones *trained* how and when to use guns.

You little people can be so funny sometimes.

[Abdul]

I believe the dog in question is an Airedale Terrier, not a poodle.

Poodles, by the way, are not always the little teacup pansy dogs. Standard poodles weigh up to 70 pounds. Some guy trained a bunch of poodles to pull his sled through the Iditarod. You could justifiably shoot an attacking standard poodle.

[Cracker\'s Boy]

Why doesn't the cop carry Mace on his big, manly tool belt? Too many pairs of handcuffs?

Jeez.

CB

[bigbigslacker]

RC,

All captured on the home-woners security cam: A cop pulls into the owner's drive to ask for directions. A harmless looking dog trots up to the cop who is standing next to the driver's side front fender. The cop clearly could have went back to the car door, or done nothing since this dog was not threatening. The cops pulls his gun and shoots the dog dead. The cops tells his passenger, his brother in law, to stay in the car. End of video. (no audio)

Per the owner, the police initialy said the cop felt threatened, but changed their story after the home-owner informed them the whole thing was captured on video.

I'm wondering why it is a cop would ever have to stop to ask directions. There must be a reason he wouldn't contact the dispatcher? Was he not supposed to have a passenger in the car? Was he using the squad for personal business, and needed to get somewhere he shouldn't be going? Also, according to the reporter, the "cop" was a dispatcher and not actually a cop. What would happen to me if I pulled up to a cop's house and shot his dog? (stupid question, eh?)

[MikeN]

ANYONE that deals with the public in their homes should have basic dog safety training. This officer put himself in a submissive posture by backing away from the dog. If he was trying to guarantee aggression from the animal he couldnt have done a better job.

[Elemenope]

Kneecap? Then the bastard will go off on disability. It would be cheaper to pay for the funeral.

1. Kneecapping *hurts*
2. The disability benefits are like salt in the wound
3. Besides, you want the fucker to live good and long
4. He gets to feel like one of the little people

[ktc2]

Jimbo! It's coming right at us!

[miche]

Can we shoot him in the groin instead?

/obviously not feeling very charitable today

[Neu Mejican]

Terrible behavior by the cop.

I am not sure what the point of posting this was, however.

[ed]

RC, some kind of poodle. The cop was fearful of a poodle.

A poodle named Bruiser. That's pertinent. If it was named Bruce, not so much.

[Bramblyspam]

In fairness, that was a fairly sizeable dog, and it ran right up to the cop. If that dog ran up to me that way, I'd treat it as a potentially dangerous situation.

Killing it does seem to be a wee bit of an overreaction though.

[sixstring (still using Confuci]

Man who shoot puppy
is doggone crazy

[Nigel Watt]

Other reason I didn't watch it is that I'm in class right now. But reading the summary, I'm surprised the homeowner didn't break out some gasoline and torch that cop car Paris-style.

We need more cop cars to go up in flames.

All statements encouraging criminal activity should be taken in jest only. Nigel Watt, posting under his real name or associated pseudonyms, does not encourage criminal activity in any form.

[Why Certainly]

I'm not finding a lot of news on this, but here's some:

http://www.chickashanews.com/homepage/local_story_295153307.html?keyword=leadpicturestory

[tekende]

I live in Oklahoma. I thought our cops were better than this...guess I was wrong.

[Not a cop; doesn\'t even play]

not sure what the point of posting this was

To smear the cop and his chosen profession, of course.
You know I'm right, judging by the comments above.

[X]

In fairness, that was a fairly sizeable dog, and it ran right up to the cop.

In fainess the cop went on the dog's turf toward him knowing full well that he (the cop) was in his own words an extreme chickenshit when it comes to canines.

[Why Certainly]

"In fairness, that was a fairly sizeable dog, and it ran right up to the cop. If that dog ran up to me that way, I'd treat it as a potentially dangerous situation."

I looked at the video a number of times. The dog was not running straight at the deputy. Watch it a few times. The dog was going to pass the deputy's left side. Heck, the pooch might have been excited about pissing on a tire. Also, the dog was bounding, which is not indicative of aggressive behavior. I didn't see any evidence that the dog was aggressive. Curious? You bet. That's the dog's job.

[Troy]

In fairness, that was a fairly sizeable dog, and it ran right up to the cop. If that dog ran up to me that way, I'd treat it as a potentially dangerous situation.

Eh no. My english mastiff is a sizaeable dog. The shoulders of this dog were below the knees of the pig. The top of his head probably did go above the pig's knees. The pig could have stomped this dog.

I don't think the dog was attacking the pig. Look at the trajectory of the dog when the pig is by his door and the dog is at the front wheel/bumper of the pig's squad car. That trajectory wold have taken the dog past the pig. I think this dog was just saying hello.

[Anvilwyrm]

More to the point, the cop had plenty of time to get back into the car, or could have used pepper spray, etc.

...still woudl like to know why the cop had to stop for directions. Something feels false there.

[Cracker\'s Boy]

"I think this dog was just saying hello."

We'll never know. The dog is dead and we can't ask him.

CB
(Completely agree that, from the view of the video, the dog would have passed the killer on each's left, missing by about 2 feet.)

[Timmy Mac]

The video does point out that one cure for the surveillance society is to maintain your own surveillance. If this woman hadn't had the camera, this psycho wouldn't be held accountable. Watch the watchers, and all that.

[troy]

So what did the pig do after he shot the dog? It sounds like he just left it lay there.

Freeze the frame at 1:41, the dogs head is perpendicular to the pig's body.

[Cracker\'s Boy]

"If that dog ran up to me that way, I'd treat it as a potentially dangerous situation."

""If that COP ran up to me that way, I'd treat it as a potentially dangerous situation."

And since he had a gun, I would be justified in shooting HIM, right?

CB

[Bramblyspam]

I agree, the dog was most likely just saying hello. However, that's not such an easy judgment to make if you have to make it instantly, especially if you're not a dog person. The dog's trajectory went past the cop, but it wouldn't be possible for the cop to judge the dog's intended trajectory until after it had rounded the front of the car.

I'm not a dog person. In that situation, my adrenaline would have been pumping and I would've been on guard. Perhaps there was a 90% chance that the dog wasn't dangerous, but I get apprehensive when faced with a 10% chance of getting attacked.

However, I am in total agreement that cops should be trained to deal with situations like this without resorting to lethal methods.

[TrickyVic]

""""In fairness, that was a fairly sizeable dog, and it ran right up to the cop. If that dog ran up to me that way, I'd treat it as a potentially dangerous situation.""""

There is a huge difference between real and perceived. In most cases, if you shoot someone because you perceived a threat where one did not exist, you're going to jail. Cops get away with it because they are cops. You're really only allowed to defend yourself from a real threat.

Precieved, not actual, acts of aggression are punishable by death in what type of countries?

It's sadly amusing the amount of people that will scream socialism about McCain or Obama yet remain silent about acts such as this.

[ed]

I don't think the dog was attacking the pig. Look at the trajectory of the dog when the pig is by his door and the dog is at the front wheel/bumper of the pig's squad car.

I thought Abbie Hoffman was dead.

[BigBrother]

"""The video does point out that one cure for the surveillance society is to maintain your own surveillance. If this woman hadn't had the camera, this psycho wouldn't be held accountable. Watch the watchers, and all that."""

Yes, my quest for cameras everwhere is almost complete.

[miche]

I agree Timmy Mac. I'd have much more sympathy for the dog killer if he'd owned up to his mistake and apologized to the dog's owner. That she had to pull out the video before they'd even cop to the situation being other than the fearing for life and limb that they'd originally claimed is what makes this ugliest.

[TrickyVic]

"""However, I am in total agreement that cops should be trained to deal with situations like this without resorting to lethal methods."""

So basically they are less trained than a mailman to handle K9 threats?

It has nothing, nothing to do with training, common sense and repsect of one's property would have gone a long way here.

[SugarFree]

The fact that most law-abiding citizens tense up at the mere sight of a cop while driving to walking around town means that the model of policing they are employing has failed utterly and they are little more than open air prison guards.

I tried explaining this to the cop I work with on the occasional project and he looked at me like I was speaking in glottal-stops and clicks exclusive.

[Reinmoose]

What the is it with cops and shooting dogs?
I think they're taking out their agression on something they won't get punished for killing instead of potentially getting punished for killing the person who's property they are on.
Is this a good tradeoff?

[jeff teter]

after viewing video i side with law enforcement

[JMR]

The video, while damning enough (and it's not anti-cop bias to tell the truth about bad cops, sorry trolls!) DOES stop too early. Did the cop do anything to help the dog or contact the owner afterwards, and if so, what??

[SugarFree]

Reinmoose,

Steroids and authority combine to make a witches' brew of sublimated anger over shrunken testicles and inculcated us-vs-them superiority. The fact that most cop's IQ hover around the national median contributes a lot to it as well.

When you train people to react instead of think, is it surprising they have so many stupid reactions?

[Buddy Holly]

Terrible behavior by the cop.

I am not sure what the point of posting this was, however.

The point is that cops have a defacto license to shoot a dog anytime they feel like it. That is probably not a good development in LEO behavior. It is another data point about cops holding themselves to different standards than they hold the rest of us.

[Elemenope]

Neu Mejican | October 23, 2008, 11:09am | #
Terrible behavior by the cop.

I am not sure what the point of posting this was, however.

There are still people who I interact with (and I'm sure many others do as well) who still believe that stuff like this *never happens*.

Now I get to point them to this video. It's invaluable in that way.

[george]

the dog ran at him---I would have shot too.

[Reinmoose]

El-

I've directed a number of people to Balko's map of isolated incidents. They don't get very worked up about it, from what I understand... I mean - they can see that each individual occurrance is horrible, but they don't see ending the drug war or anything as a possible solution.

[Elemenope]

The fact that most cop's IQ hover around the national median contributes a lot to it as well.

A few years ago, there was an article (I'm waaaay to lazy to look it up) about an officer-candidate who was not hired by the local PD because his IQ *was too high*. The PD copped to it and said its reasoning was that the type of work cops do would bore smart people and as a consequence they would be unhappy employees.

I shit you not.

[Elemenope]

reinmoose --

It helps the fence-sitters to jump.

It helps the willfully ignorant to at least be aware.

It's no silver bullet; I guess my point is the easy access to this sort of information makes the arguments underlying the danger of police power and impunity *much easier to have and win* than if this information was not readily available. An improvement from a 5% success rate to a 10% success rate is still an improvement, eh?

[SugarFree]

To the "i would have shot the dog too" trolls: Then you shouldn't be cops either, fuckwits.

[TrickyVic]

"""I am not sure what the point of posting this was, however."""

What's the purprose of posting anything other than to inform? So your question really becomes why do we need to be informed about this event.

X said
if dogs make you fearful for your life, perhaps you just don't have enough personal courage for a career in law enforcement.

ktc2 said
Jimbo! It's coming right at us!

X and ktc2 win the thread.

[troy]

ed

You're right. That's not fair to pigs.

[R C Dean]

If a person randomly pulled into my driveway, got out of their car, and shot my dog, they would be looking down the barrel of either a shotgun or a .45 (whichever was handiest) until law enforcement (or a coroner, depending on what they did next) arrived.

If it was a cop, I doubt I'd draw on them, sadly, just because I know that the system is so stacked in their favor. I would pursue them relentlessly in the courts, papers, etc.

Oh, and I have just added an external surveillance system to the list of goodies for the Next and Final House.

[Elemenope]

It was New London PD, IIRC.

Connecticut, after all. They're special.

[Chuck]

not sure what the point of posting this was

To smear the cop and his chosen profession, of course.
You know I'm right, judging by the comments above.

Really? Replaying back his exact actions is a smear? If simply showing the actions of a person following SOP on the job is a smear, that says something pretty powerful about the job.

[SugarFree]

Ele,

I believe it. I went to school with a guy failed out the psych exam for not being aggressive enough. One of the nicest, fairest people I've ever known, who wanted to be a cop after a family tragedy gave him a desire to want to help other people "get through the worst day of their life."

Of course the cops didn't want him.

[TrickyVic]

It's been aruged by LEOs that they have a right to shoot whatever feels threatening during official police business. Since this shooting was not pursuant to official police business, there was no underlying crime, so the cop probably will be punished to some degree. This is worth a follow up.

I remember a story in NJ where two officers responded to a call about a dog, I think it was a pit bull, they were standing on opposite ends and both fired at the dog. Both bullets ricocheted off the pavement and struck the officer on the other side. The cops shot each other. Both survived. I think it happened in the 90s so it might be on the Interent somewhere.

[htom]

Farm dogs run up to greet visitors, to see if they're family or friend or strangers. I suspect that we have here a culture collision between a farm dog and a city cop who doesn't know that he's supposed to stay in the car until he's been greeted. Good dog, Bruiser, Good dog. RIP

[miche]

And your friend probably would have been a 'protect and serve' kind of guy. It's too bad what usually ends up on the streets.

And yes I do hate most cops and make a point of not dealing with them. (I recently quit hanging with a new girlfriend because she called the cops to her home to deal with her 14 year old daughter.)

[hawk30]

Anyone catch that he had his brother-in-law riding along with him?

At least he showed what a tough guy he is.

[TrickyVic]

It won't be long before the old Keystone cops films become recruiting videos.

[kinnath]

Oh, and I have just added an external surveillance system to the list of goodies for the Next and Final House.

As I have suggested before, make sure the surveillance system streams or copies the video off-premises to a location the police can't get to without a search warrant.

A video machine located on-premises during a no-knock raid may "fail" to provide useful video at a later time (perhaps during subsequent civil or criminal trials).

[Rachel]

If the cop is that afraid of a poodle, is he really qualified to be a cop?

somebody get that coward a freaking desk job.

[fj]

Keep this guy away from dog parks.

[SugarFree]

somebody get that coward a freaking desk job

Do you realize how much replacing "menacing" computer terminals and water fountains would cost per year? Oklahoma's not made of money, you know.

[matelot]

fucking coward pig !

[anarch]

This story is also linked at the blog on lewrockwell.com today.

Any predictions on the outcome of the "civilian's" complaint?

[Elemenope]

I remember a story in NJ where two officers responded to a call about a dog, I think it was a pit bull, they were standing on opposite ends and both fired at the dog. Both bullets ricocheted off the pavement and struck the officer on the other side. The cops shot each other. Both survived.

That dog had some mighty mojo. Do not fuck with that dog.

[StupendousMan]

IANAITG, Why are people so afraid of mid-sized dogs. They're at least half you're weight for Joe's sake.

[cunnivore]

Isn't it a felony in most states to record audio or video of a cop without their permission? Let alone post the video to the internet!

[Boss]

That's messed up. The dog was running at him but there wasn't a reason he needed to shoot him. If he did feel threatened, like she said, he could have gotten in the car.

I just wonder where she was during this? Was she on the porch or something? Usually dogs aren't supposed to be running around unless they are a leash or their owner is right there.

[Andrew]

This story is also linked at the blog on lewrockwell.com today.

And over there they have a link to the Police Department's website to report "Suspicious Activity"

http://www.gclec.com/suspicious.htm

you know.
just in case you notice any suspicious activity over there.

[Andrew]

Isn't it a felony in most states to record audio or video of a cop without their permission? Let alone post the video to the internet!

Are the trolls even trying here?

If you want a serious answer, no, it's not a felony anywhere to record video of a cop, nor is it a felony in most places to record audio (since it's just a video here, it's a moot point).

[JayRayD]

I hope this cop has children that see this and now know how truly this man is a monster and does not belong in our civil society!
But if they said something he'd probobally shoot them too and eat his own babies!!

[aerosquid]

the dog was an Airedale terrier.

[Wodha]

What's the officer's name?

What precinct does he work out of?

What is his superior's name?

What city did this happen in?

[Luke]

That is horrible. That cop is a bastard. Seriously, that is a huge mistake and a violatoin of his authority. He should have his badge taken away.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Outrage, fucking outrage is what I feel on this.

To the fullest extent of the law this deputy should be prosecuted.

[anarch]

It's the cameras.

If the officer could be sure no one was filming, he would prudently yet humanely have retreated to his car at the first sight of the dog's approach.

But, imagining how cowardly his retreat on video would appear to the world, and anticipating ridicule or worse, he had to demonstrate to the viewing criminal element and its target that his colors don't run.

So the dog owner's belief that the cop "was just showing off" omits the public-service angle, the pressure that post-Rodney-King life has placed on LEOs, and... well, there must be a third reason.

[anarch]

Thank you, Andrew. Guy had me worried I'd missed something.

[Elemenope]

Are the trolls even trying here?

If you want a serious answer, no, it's not a felony anywhere to record video of a cop, nor is it a felony in most places to record audio (since it's just a video here, it's a moot point).

Andrew...

He was kidding.

[anarch]

This spider's too tired to search. Any cop sites defending the tactics in this episode? I like to hear both sides.

[Elemenope]

To follow up more seriously, in a few jurisdictions (mostly in Pennsylvania, for some unearthly reason), police and prosecutors have attempted to use anti-wiretapping and two-party rules to harass those who take audio or video of cops executing their job duties, with varying degrees of success.

[Fortysomething]

If I had a strange dog running that fast right at me, I don't know what I'd do. I thought he was running too fast to be friendly, but I could be wrong. Maybe the cop thought he didn't have time to get in the car. Ideally he would have fired a warning shot instead, but not *at* the dog. I have aggressive dogs next door to me, and believe me, when you think you're being attacked you don't think too clearly or compassionately. If people would just keep their dogs on leashes, we wouldn't have these problems in the first place.

[Topol]

AMAZING FOTO ! - http://visualunique.com/topolm.html

[Farm Boy]

In my neck of the woods, when you pull into a stranger's (farm)yard, you wait until someone comes out of the house before getting out of the car. Reason being, if there's a dog, he'll probably bark or charge you. After all, that's his job, running off people he doesn't know.

This cop is an idiot who obviously cannot be trusted with the responsbile use of firearms.

[Danger Will Robinson!]

Topol's link takes you a dodgy site.

[Abdul]

aerosquid,

Thank you! Stop referring to this thing as a fucking poodle!

[projecthappy]

I'd like to stick up for the underdog (no pun) here and say I don't blame the cop that much. It was a boneheaded move, but you never know how much stress he had been in and the dog was going awfully fast. Personally I don't really care about animals, I think animal abuse should be legal. So I it doesn't tug my heartstrings in any way. It's the equivalent of a cop accidentally breaking something, oh well, we're all human and it happens.

[Andrew]

If I had a strange dog running that fast right at me, I don't know what I'd do. I thought he was running too fast to be friendly, but I could be wrong. Maybe the cop thought he didn't have time to get in the car. Ideally he would have fired a warning shot instead, but not *at* the dog. I have aggressive dogs next door to me, and believe me, when you think you're being attacked you don't think too clearly or compassionately. If people would just keep their dogs on leashes, we wouldn't have these problems in the first place.

Sorry, if I'm on my own property, I can do whatever I want with my dogs. You think I should keep them on leashes on my own property?

Also, if you have the slightest clue about dogs, you know that a wagging tail or "bounding" towards a person (versus running) indicates docile/friendly behavior, not aggressive.

[poor dog]

OMG! snausages! snausages! snausages! oh shi...

[Jerry Q]

Someone should kill that scumbag cop.

[licnyc]

projecthappy... "It was a boneheaded move, but you never know how much stress he had been"

yeah- that would be the reason to NOT give him a gun. Just saying.

[cunnivore]

Andrew,

I wasn't kidding. Talk to the Balko.

[Lycus]

To those fellow OK residents-more of the same BS from inept OK cops and an inept system who doesn't deal with them, and tarnishes the reps of the good cops we have in the state. Remember the news in Noble, OK last year that ended with a cop shooting at a snake, missed, bullet hit boy and killed him-cop got a slap on the wrist (he got a deferred sentence).

That was in neighboring Cleveland County, when a HUMAN was killed. If you expect something different to happen when a pooch was killed, you're dreaming. The government here is a POS.

[beedle]

That is disgusting. In florida there are HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of reports of cops shooting dogs for "no apparent reason" ... Finally, this is video evidence of gun happy morons being placed on a sqad. He should be more than ashamed of himself, and if he has children, they should be shown what a monster he is. Completely outrageous.

[beedle]

project happy - there was no PUN in your statement. Its was out right cold and obviously meant to be cruel. You are precisely what is wrong with this world. You compare a live, breathing, beautiful dog to a broken inanimate object... me thinks you're missing a bit more than just your "heart strings". Maybe some therapy for your obviously empty heart could do you and yours some good. If only YOU were the dog.

[projecthappy]

Sorry beedle, but your moral principle here is really lacking, plants are also "living" and "beautiful" (which is a HIGHLY subjective term) but we don't consider it immoral to kill plants.

Personally, it does "hurt my heart" to see an animal be abused, but I think of more as an emotional response then a violation of ethics.

I would put forth that I'm actually MORE empathetic as a person, because I am able to put myself in the place of the cop (who is an actual HUMAN) and relate how he might make that mistake. I find it reprehensible to relate to animals (which live by a much more brutal and savage code of conduct) more than humans.

[You Morons]

Unfortunatly most of you posting things like "that cop should be shot" etc. are complete morons.

1. If you can say with 100% certainty the dogs tail is wagging from that crappy video than you have super human sight.

2. You wern't there. You really have no idea what that dog was doing or about to do. Just because its not a pitbull, doberman, or some other breed thats aggressiveness has been way overstated to the fearful public, doesn't mean that the dog wasnt being aggressive.

3. Do most of you really expect cops to be nice to you when its apparent most of you have hostility toward them before they even approach you. Get real. They have to protect themselves from a-holes like most of you.

[projecthappy]

Ultimately I think this example of a cop shooting a dog is kind of a silly thing to use as an indictment of police. It's the type of thing that people try to use to de-legitimize the police force as a whole, which I think is misguided. I'm just pointing out that it's unreasonable to expect cops to be without flaws, I think this is a case of jumping on a mistake and using to paint with a broad brush. Yes, the police force is incompetent in many ways. But anecdotes like these aren't a really compelling argument, in my view.

[joshua corning]

Why the fuck would a cop have to get directions?

2. You wern't there. You really have no idea what that dog was doing or about to do. Just because its not a pitbull, doberman, or some other breed thats aggressiveness has been way overstated to the fearful public, doesn't mean that the dog wasnt being aggressive.

You are right...but if he was simply there to get directions then the cop should have just gotten back into the car.

Unfortunatly most of you posting things like "that cop should be shot" etc. are complete morons.

Not shot...but he should be fired.

[WretchedRadio]

Screw this...I'm with the people who say that cop should be shot and killed. This is unacceptable. I hope he doesn't make it out of 2008. Pathetic...this is why cops are so low on the totem pole of life. Most are absolute pieces of human garbage. And that's the truth.

[Jude]

"That is disgusting. In florida there are HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of reports of cops shooting dogs for "no apparent reason" ... Finally, this is video evidence of gun happy morons being placed on a sqad. He should be more than ashamed of himself, and if he has children, they should be shown what a monster he is. Completely outrageous."

Thats because hundreds if not thousands of dog owners are irresponsible enough to leave their dogs off leash and free to attack police officers.

[Satin]

The murder of the dog was bad enough. Much worse, however, is the request by the police department to conceal the truth. One must assume that it is routine policy of the police department to conceal the truth whenever the truth does not favor the police themselves. One must also wonder how justice can be served when the police department's policy includes concealing the truth, and how much injustice has resulted from this police policy.

[WretchedRadio]

You Are Morons = cop and he's also a puppy killer..this loser should be be put down as well.

[John Roberts]

Now here we have exactly the kind of Cop I love to hear about in the news that gets killed in the line of duty. This worthless sack deserves a bullet to the head!

Jiff
http://www.online-privacy.cz.tc

[Matt Dudley - Collinsville, IL]

Fuck the police... Hang those fuckers by their dicks...

[Fortysomething]

Andrew:

"Sorry, if I'm on my own property, I can do whatever I want with my dogs. You think I should keep them on leashes on my own property?" -- If you can guarantee your dog won't come off your property, then do whatever you want with them. My neighbor's dogs get out of their fenced-in yard, then come over and won't let us near our house if we're coming home from a walk. Obviously the dog in the video was not fenced in and could get out if he wanted to, so he can potentially be a danger to others who are not on the property.

"Also, if you have the slightest clue about dogs, you know that a wagging tail or "bounding" towards a person (versus running) indicates docile/friendly behavior, not aggressive." -- I have a dog but I'm (pretty obviously) not really a dog person. I couldn't tell from the video that he was "bounding" vs. running, so if you can tell that from the video, then you have better eyesight than I do.

[X]

OK, assuming the dog was coming over to bite him, did the cop overreact by being fearful for his life and shooting the dog? YES, because dogs don't kill cops.

[killmo]

Kill more of the mangy mutts. Animals are here for our pleasure. Boo hoo, a dog got killed. Who cares. Give the cop a medal.

[anarch]

Obviously the dog in the video was not fenced in and could get out if he wanted to, so he can potentially be a danger to others who are not on the property.

So why don't police go door to door and preventively kill dogs on their owners' property?

Oh, wait...

[htom]

Have you never heard of "invisible fencing"? The dog was on its owner's property.

[X]

Give the cop a medal

yes, give Officer Braveheart the Eugene Tackleberry Medal

[mcubed]

The problem is

police need to be policed, and put away just like us.

[taylorw]

How can anyone say that the officer truly felt his life was in danger when they changed their story after she said she had a video and offered her hush money?! He obviously made up the story to get out of it then retracted it once he realized there was video proving otherwise. Even if the video isn't clear, just the fact that they took back the original story and tried to bribe her is evidence enough that he knew what he did was wrong.

[R C Dean]

Lesson learned:

If you ever have truly damning, conclusive evidence, like the video here, don't tip your hand too early.

Let your opponent get deeply and totally committed to their lying lies, and then show your proof that not only are they are a sack of shit, they are a lying sack of shit.

Like this cop.

[hey]

I think the cop was somewhat justified...If a dog came barreling after me, i think i'd be very justified in defending myself. You have no idea where that dog has been, maybe it has rabies, maybe some other disease? With all the stories in the news about people being mauled by dogs...maybe the cop had a bad experience with one in his childhood and is fearful of dogs...I'm not saying shooting it was the RIGHT thing to do...i'm just saying i think that he was right to try and defend himself.

[No Name Guy]

Absolutely disgusting.....Cop should be fired - lying, changing stories. What a sack of shit. There's no excuse to use that level of force on a dog that's not actually biting or trying to bite.

My experience with dogs included having a quarter sized patch of skin torn off my arm by one.

In another: Day 1 - dog chases my ass from the mail box until I can get inside, nipping at my heels the whole way. Day 2 - I pepper spray the fucker at the mail box. It sneezes and repeats performance from day 1. Day 3 - after day 2, I go the local sporting goods shop and procure a daisy red rider (low powered, lever action BB gun for those who don't know). Getting mail on day 3, Mutt proceeds to chase me inside where I grab said red rider, step back out side where the dog turns back to come at me. I shoot and miss between the mutts front legs, dog turns to run, I shoot again, hitting the mutt on the hindquarter. Dog never bothered me again.

When I'm out hiking, I've had many an unleashed mutt come running full bore at me, barking up a storm, leaving their ingnorant owners a 100 yards away. They always pull up short and back off when I counter charge them using my trekking poles like lances. Never been bit. I think a pair of 3 foot long metal tipped poles scares the hell out of them.

[Russ]

Justified? Are you guys kidding me? The cop was on HER property. He was lost and looking for directions. HER PROPERTY and NO Cause to be there. I would kick that cop in the teeth.

[Jan]

If a dog came rocketing like that to me, I'd also feel threatened. Sorry, I love animals, but I'm with the cop on this one.

[John C. Randolph]

As I have suggested before, make sure the surveillance system streams or copies the video off-premises to a location the police can't get to without a search warrant.

It doesn't cost all that much to have a couple gigs of server space in Canada or Grand Cayman.

-jcr

[shecky]

Just judging from the video, I can't fault the cop too much for his action.

The changing story, however, is purely unprofessional.

[Doc]

In the LEAST I hope he gets suspended for at least 90 days WHILE he does jail for at least 90 days and has to pay a big ass fine, a formal apology and pay for the dog and for pain & suffering. Bastard cop.

[Vegas Vic]

This is another example of why all government employees should be on camera & GPS 24/7.

If they're not doing anything wrong, then why would they object?

[RL]

I use Mac's Safari browser. Any idea why some of the video clips posted here work for me (I click on them and they run) while others don't?

[brad]

Just more proof that most cops are pigs. Nothing more than criminals with badges and guns. The police wouldn't be faced with such a negative public image if they would just do more to weed out the bad ones instead of trying to cover up their mistakes. I hope her lawsuit makes her rich enough to retire.

[anarch]

Here is the only story I've found on this incident.

[turtlepower]

So all the people who scream violence against Mike Vick should also be focusing on this cop right?

And all the cops that protect him, right? (this might be the 20th story this year about cops killing dogs brazenly)

Where's all the hate videos and email and headlines? Where's the outrage?

Or are you only outraged when you think it's a black man who is doing it?

Inconsistency on issues like this really highlight all the undercover racists true motives.

[Jeremy]

Why could the cop have not jumped on the hood of the car or deflected the dog? And, honestly, the dog doesn't seem aggressive. He looked like any dog that's happy to have a visitor and wants to say hello.

[who what]

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/6/b97/aaa
look at the mans body language.
He has really low self esteem.
I would blame it on his off
duty sexual proclivities.

[PR]

since the deputy lied about this, isn't he essentially useless as a law enforcement officer now? A defense lawyer could create a reasonable doubt about any testimony he gave.

[Jared Lorz]

Well, I'm not to surprised considering the death squads we call police in this country.

[Boombie94]

Well first of all i think that is absolutely sick what that officer did and i have an Airedale of my own who is four years old and Airedales are known to protect but at the same time they are known to be very mild in aggressiveness. In a study shown they produced 4 dogs 2 golden retrievers of both sexes and 2 Airedales of both sexes, when put through 6 different aggression test the golden retrievers attacked 83% of the time and on one occasion did the male Airedale. My pup has more bark and no bite. She wouldn't hurt a fly and i think what that man did was wrong

[Seamus]

So basically they are less trained than a mailman to handle K9 threats?

Why the hell should they need to be trained? They've got a freaking *gun*.

[Cracker\'s Boy]

And what if it had been a kid running at the cop with a toy gun in his hands?

Think of the children!

CB

[who me]

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/6/b97/aaa
the cops linked in info

[OK, let\'s do that]

Think of the children!

[Andrew]

So all the people who scream violence against Mike Vick should also be focusing on this cop right?

And all the cops that protect him, right? (this might be the 20th story this year about cops killing dogs brazenly)

Where's all the hate videos and email and headlines? Where's the outrage?

Or are you only outraged when you think it's a black man who is doing it?

Inconsistency on issues like this really highlight all the undercover racists true motives.

Have you ever read this site? Radley highlights this stuff all the time. And the outrage is there. Heck, if you read most of this thread you'd see a lot of outrage.

[ronnie]

any unrestrained animal that attacts should be shot. Don't let them run free, they won't die!

[biff]

your all idiots

[dude]

"I'm pretty shocked that a little kid hasn't gotten shot while protecting his or her favorite pooch."

Samuel Weaver did.

[Don Hays]

Cops need to be put on a leash, more and more cops are getting with murder. Every since the patriot act the think they are entitled to do what ever in hell they want. Look @ the Cop who killed Stacey Peterson, these white cops have a sense of entitlement that is beyond belief

[Neu Mejican]

Elemenope | October 23, 2008, 11:57am | #

Neu Mejican:I am not sure what the point of posting this was, however.

LMNOP: There are still people who I interact with (and I'm sure many others do as well) who still believe that stuff like this *never happens*.

Now I get to point them to this video. It's invaluable in that way.

Well, never happens can be disputed.
But that doesn't make incidents like this common.

This is less useful than the isolated incident report from Balko.

The plural of anecdote...yadda yadda.

[wideheadofknowledge]

1) It's not a puppy

2) Clearly it was running to attack the officer

3) Officer made the right decision

[JB]

Anyone that gets pulled over by an Oakie cop should say "I'm surprised you got our of your car. Considering what a bunch of cowards you are."

[ed]

Puppycide in Oklahoma

Silly lefty libertarians.
"Cops are bad."
"Dogs are good."
Radley says this and that, and you goosestep in obedience.
Who's the dog, and who's the master?

Yelp and hop, and I'll throw you a bone.

[Local Guy]

I know Tammy (the woman in the video) and her lawyer. These cops are in trouble. I'm siding with her on this one because this particular sheriffs department has a history of incompetence and law breaking.

http://newsok.com/grady-county-sheriff-deputies-plead-guilty-in-gambling-case/article/3306975

[voice of reason]

I utterly respect this guys decision. Maybe he thought the dog was rabid. It's not certain that he saw her with the dog and knew that it had an owner. All you people with dogs need to realize that they aren't every man's best friend. They are dirty and can be annoying to someone who doesn't want to be licked, sniffed, and bothered. In fact, I'm dating a girl that I really like (and vice versa) -- but if she wants to get to the next level with me, her 2 dogs and cats will have to go.

[Oops]

Umm, that wasn't a pit bull, that was like a terrier waggin it's tail. What the hell. Did he strap him to the roof after he shot'em? Yeee Haaaaww. I gots a gun! No chiwawa's is safe!

[none]

Oh yeah, that dog was charging him. I don't blame the officer on this one.

[Jason]

Watched and rewatched that video again.

Just that dog IS speeding at the police officer, he backs away slowly which is correct to do with an agitated dog, and it comes within a foot or so of him before being shot.

It's hard to say what the dog would have done when it reached the officer, bit him or just pounced on him like a happy puppy. But, given the manner in which it approached him I could see him claiming defense.

Though I wonder if he had a taser on him he could have used instead?

There's a lot of police officers who are complete asses, but in this situation, I don't know....

[Andrew Lynch]

Gosh, where to start.

1) The reason for showing this video? I'll bow to my cynic and say it's because it pits a demographic hated by visitors of this site (cops) and a dog that enjoys all the modern benefits of anthropomorphization.

2) The number of wholly ignorant remarks about the cop not knowing whether the dog had rabies is low and so easily dismissed.

3) Cops -- despite the mouth-foaming so many of you display -- are people. People make mistakes. People are hateful, cowardly, and irrational when they are afraid. From what I can tell, the cop overreacted, but the perverse position shifts of the police department are the true "pig" here, not necessarily the guy who exhibited disastrous judgment.

4) Full disclaimer and a defense of the modern cop: my father was a D.C. policeman for 20 years. My mother tells a mean story of the day she picked up the phone to discover that my father, sent to help quell civil-rights rioting, called her from the floor of a phone booth (the old, enclosed kind) to say that he was afraid he might not see her or me (then 2 years old) again. I suspect that many of the mouth-foamers on this thread would find him a terrible example of a law-enforcement officer. Their panties might further be twisted to learn that my dad left beat service to focus on the Youth Division, so he could help identify and rechannel the violent anger that years of racism had wrought on D.C. When he left the force, he was a decorated man, who left in his decidedly unbloody wake members of a generation of angry young black men who were going to college, rejecting nowhereville welfare, and becoming cops themselves.

I have no problems with cops or with Cops. The fact that so many of you do based on a crude emotional appeal by Reason (appealing to your rubbernecker instincts) is rather pathetic.

Get out and about and get to know a cop or two. You might find that they share some of your values, that they have names, families, intelligence, and -- get this -- dogs! All systems, including the one we are currently contributing to (Hit & Run) are fraught with problems. Sweeping generalizations based on the actions of a statistically puny sample of cops/Cops seems like fodder for lesser minds.

[Earth Man]

The dog was in full charge. I would have done the same!

[joe]

cops are allowed to shoot dogs at any time for any reason. this is a policy i agree with.

[Mario]

The millions of us who don't travel armed would have managed to survive that "attack." I'm 100% certain about that. Big man with the gun decided to shoot the dog, when he easily could have gotten back in his car.

Even if he couldn't have gotten back in his car, he could have at least tried to handle the situation with his gun at the ready -- like any decent, armed individual who set foot on a stranger's property would have done.

I wish him dead.

[Joe]

I'm not a fan of law enforcement at all, and I am a dog lover. I have a boxer that we consider our daughter. That said, the dog is running at a high rate of speed towards the officer. At that point, there is no telling what the dogs intentions are, and a dog of that size and obvious muscle structure can do a lot of damage.

Case in point... I grew up with boxers, and never knew a vicious dog in my first 7 years. On this particular day, I was out in the front yard in our culdesac, and my friend was across the street in his front yard. We were throwing a frisbee back and forth when all of a sudden our redneck neighbor's pitbull came tearing out of the front door towards me. Like anytime my boxer did that to play, I got down on one need to pet him when he got to me. Instead, the dog had me pinned on my back, tearing at my face. The only thing that saved my life was that I managed to get my hands through his collar and with every ounce of my 7 year old strength, I minimized the damage he was doing.

In the end, I was very close to needing skin grafts and the gashes were unable to be stitched. The result was pain medication, a face wrap and oozing for the next 2 weeks. The bottom line is this... MOST cops are worthless thorns in the side of society. It doesn't make what that cop did any more or less self defense. I'd have done the same damn thing if I didn't know the dog.

[TrickyVic]

I bet dogs greet cops just like this every day without incident. Most cops know this was unjustified, but good luck at finding one who will go against a fellow officer in public.

I doubt anyone taking the cop's side would do so if it was their dog. Of course everyone will have an excuse as to why that wouldn't be their dog.

[Andrew Lynch]

"MOST cops are worthless thorns in the side of society"

Joe, I thought your reputation around here was based on reasonable assumptions. You have no data to back up the quoted claim.

[Joe]

I withdraw my post... The last video I saw only showed the surveilance video and you can't decipher the breed... that's a friggin sheep dog. He might have needed a bandaid on his ankle... Hang him, I say.

[roxi]

the dog was a labradoodle, a mix between a standard poodle and a lab, i have never known one to be agressive, they are usually very passive and friendly dogs

[Andrew Lynch]

Furthermore, joe, you can no more generalize about the behavior of large dogs bounding toward you than I can about the quantity of good, noble cops like my dad.

I wonder where that leaves us, especially when Balko decided this story was important enough to interrupt our busy schedules with appeals to emotion rather than reason.

[PhilGay]

The video is clear, this ass hole should be fired, no ifs and or butts. His response is shameful and if I was standing by with a gun I would have shot him myself. This guy is the scum of the earth.,

Fire and prosecute this prick. His action was shameful.

Phil Gray

[Joe]

Andrew Lynch, I'm a former professional firefighter. My buddies were either fellow firefighters or law enforcement. If you got to spend time listening to their epic tales of pulling guns on teenagers and willingness to use them or even had to talk them into handing you their piece outside a local bar because they were absolutely wasted, perhaps you'd understand. That or you're either one of them or the other type who manage to stay straight but have an uncontrollable authority complex, am I right?

Would you like to take a gander at how many police officers break the law on a regular basis, but are immune due to an unspoken "professional courtesy"?

Might I mention running a call on a boating collision with a fatality, to find a drunk lieutenant (drive of the boat that caused the collision"? When park police showed up, they gave him a field sobriety test that I watched him fail, and released him right after without charges. How much more data do you need? The list goes on, buddy....

Anyhow, sorry for derailing the comments... I'm done here.

[Abe Noxious]

She should ask for his star and $500K.
Then ask for another 500K because they tried to get her to hide the story and tape.

You know that the police are going to come after her like Liberals on Joe the Plumber for turning them in, she may as well make them pay.

[Connoisseur of surreal Weltans]

Balko decided this story was important enough to interrupt our busy schedules

Radley! Apologize to the nice man for interrupting his busy schedule!

[Dave W.]

I wonder if her lawyer will be able to show that the police report he gets in discovery is bogus.

[Andrew Lynch]

joe, I applaud your civil service. I don't know WHERE you served, but perhaps that is a filter you should consider before positing anecdotal tales as evidence of a blight on police forces across the country. Remember, I'm simply responding to your curiously definitive "MOST cops are worthless thorns in the side of society."

I am very happy with the few cops I know who work for the 7th precinct in San Francisco (my neighborhood). They smile when you greet them, ask about your day, pet your dogs. I've also met cops in Wyoming who stopped me because I was a black man in a sweet, clean car driving through the countryside. Which calculus do I perform to arrive at a massive canvass about cops in general? Frankly, being an optimist, I'm going to assume that cops are good until they prove they aren't. A rule that works in a lot of contexts.

[TrickyVic]

I hope the lady wins her suit. Radley keep us posted.

[Frank]

Right state, but it was West Hartford. The candidate sued the department, and lost.

I wonder if the sheriff is up for election in a few days? His opponent may be praising God for the windfall of bad publicity.

[Isha]

I hope she eats his lunch and the department's, too. Not owning up to your mistakes is cowardice. We don't need any more cowards running around with guns, much less cowards who wear uniforms AND tote guns.

[Steve]

This can't possibly be an officer, it's an armed, psychotic criminal impersonating a police officer. He needs to be taken off of the streets. I'd be very wary of being approached by any uniformed officers in this town until the perp is found, rendered harmless, and locked up. Hopefully the real police there will find him.

[Frank]

Now here we have exactly the kind of Cop I love to hear about in the news that gets killed in the line of duty. This worthless sack deserves a bullet to the head!

Problem is, he'd get a hero's funeral instead of getting put in a Hefty Bag (tm) and set out on the curb like he deserves. Has someone added "Dog Killer" to the list of accomplishments on his web page?

[Aresen]

I hope that cop becomes a fire hydrant in dog heaven.

[Dave]

What a terrifying looking... what is that a poodle?

Glad to know the people "protecting" us are "terrified" of over-friendly pets.

[VexNsiolence]

Let this be a lesson to all you fucks who don't keep your fucking dogs locked up. When a cop shows up to your place.....keep that fucking animal restrained!

[Phil]

That entire state is populated by fuck ups and lowlifes. Build a fence around it and you can close all the prisons in the country.

[Randall]

For Andrew Lynch: Well spoken reasoning. There are bad cops out there, in a small amount, and most of them end up getting 700,000 hits on Youtube to add to the overgeneralization of lazy minded people who can't see past an intial emotion.

For Mario: "The millions of us who don't travel armed would have managed to survive that "attack." I'm 100% certain about that"

I've got a Giant Schnauzer that's territorial at my home. I wouldn't let him out to "greet" anyone because I know his tendency to be that way (though I love him dearly). I'll make you a deal. You come to my house, I'll let him come greet you in the same way, attack you, and you go walk it off. Afterwards, you can tell me it's no big deal. I'll even pay for your stitches.

[Kenrick Rilee]

She should have put up a sign: "beware, dog may attack you"

To me, it looks like the dog was attacking him.

[scott]

In response to Elemenope,

"Or, failing that, I'm pretty shocked that a little kid hasn't gotten shot while protecting his or her favorite pooch."

That has happened. Randy Weaver's 14 year old son got shot in the back by an officer after the officer under cover (in the bushes) shot his dog. The son retaliated by grabbing his own .22 (this is a puny gun and these are people who live in the middle of nowhere) and shot wildly in the air. Distraught 14 year old shot in the back by trained sniper! Look it up on Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties. Disturbing.

[Evil]

THE DOG OWNER SHOULD HAVE, LEGALLY!!!!, HAD HER DOG UNDER CONTROL! EITHER ON A LEASH OR FENCED! THE LAW IN HER COUNTY IS VERY SPECIFIC. IT'S THE DOG OWNER'S FAULT. IF A DOG CHARGED ME LIKE THAT I'D KILL IT TOO.

[shane]

As you can clearly see the dog was going to attack the officer. He had every right to draw his weapon and use it. Oh, sure he could of let the dog maul his leg and had to endure rabie shots. I would of done the same thing.

[InsideJob]

That cop is a reckless maniac who needs his gun & badge taken away!

[Animals Aren\'t Humans]

Breaks my hurt to see an animal put down like that but to suggest that the cop "should be shot" is just left wing sentimental bullshit. A human life is more valuable by far than the life of a dog. Period. And if you believe differently, there's something wrong with you.

The dog was charging. The cop's body language is clear: he steps forward, then slowly steps back, and back, and back. I don't think he shot the dog to "show off". I think he shot the dog because he though his ass was being attacked.

Over-reaction? Maybe. But this should be punished with a reprimand, and a formal apology--not with taking his job away, putting him in jail, or (you moron hippies) shooting him.

[No Police State]

The jerkoff pig got lost and came onto what looks like private property to ask for directions. Then the fool shoots the owner's poodle that comes playfully running up to him!

Fire & prosecute this piece of crap!

[Jon H]

The cop was probably looking for his meth dealer's house.

[Jon H]

" Maybe. But this should be punished with a reprimand, and a formal apology--not with taking his job away, putting him in jail, or (you moron hippies) shooting him."

The punishment should be the same as if a civilian shot dead a police dog.

[Jon H]

"To me, it looks like the dog was attacking him."

He was on the dog's land. He was intruding. He wasn't there on police business, he was lost looking for his meth connection.

He had no right to shoot the dog.

[Jon H]

" But, given the manner in which it approached him I could see him claiming defense."

Was his life in danger? Fuck no.

So what was the justification for using deadly force?

[Jon H]

Just another example of why cops aren't heroes.

They put their own safety above *all* other concerns. That's not heroism.

[Jon H]

Elemenope:"A few years ago, there was an article (I'm waaaay to lazy to look it up) about an officer-candidate who was not hired by the local PD because his IQ *was too high*. The PD copped to it and said its reasoning was that the type of work cops do would bore smart people and as a consequence they would be unhappy employees."

I believe that was in Connecticut.

[Jon H]

ed wrote: "A poodle named Bruiser. That's pertinent. If it was named Bruce, not so much."

Nonono. The poodle was named Brulee.

[Jon H]

"http://www.gclec.com/suspicious.htm"

Hey, they also have a list of sherriff's sales, ie, foreclosed homes.

Looks like a whole bunch of subprime houses. I bet they weren't minority buyers, though.

[Jon H]

Maybe he thought the dog wasn't Caucasian?

[cHARLES Lawrence]

If i were on a jury and saw the video I would support the officer. The dog charged in an attacking manner. The women in my opinion was lying like a rug.

Charles

[cunnivore]

Andrew Lynch,

Do you think that every individual -- even a "civilian" -- should be permitted to shoot a dog that approaches within a foot of that person, while on the property of the dog's owner without invitation?

If not, why should cops be permitted to do so?

I don't have any particular hatred for cops. But seriously, wearing a badge raises the standard for one's conduct, not lowers it.

[Flagg]

To Jon H:

"They put their own safety above *all* other concerns. That's not heroism."

Right, and you're out there on the streets risking your neck every day? No, you're sitting at home bitching on the internet about how cops shouldn't have the right to defend themselves. The thing about cops are they're putting themselves in harms way about 20X more than you or I or doing each and every day. So, I'm willing to give them a little leeway on being cautious about their own safety. I'm not the one that's going to get stabbed, shot, or mauled every time a new call comes in.

"But, given the manner in which it approached him I could see him claiming defense."

Was his life in danger? Fuck no"

At what point is the cop IN danger? When the dog lunges at his neck? When it's chewing on his arm? Should the cop even allow the dog to bite him? Again, it was her responsibilty to have the dog detained and the dog made the unfortunate choice to attack (see above) an individual who puts his life in danger many times a day.

Shut up, go back and play some more Halo, and enjoy the peace on the streets you're afforded by others who are risking their lives without even knowing you.

[joe]

Any dog comes charging me i'm shooting it too

[copernator]

I've got no dog in this fight.

[anarch]

Hey, where the hell is gimme back my dog when we need him?

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

A few calm points in the eye of the shitstorm:

1. This is a VERY rural county, outskirts of a small town of less than 3000. You can tell from the video that this is a sparsley populated area. I have to wonder if the officer is a transplant, as he OBVIOUSLY doesn't know correct farm country etiquette.

Generally, there ARE NO leash laws in such areas, nor should there be. Country dogs are free to roam THEIR property, and serve as an early warning system and first line of defense in isolated areas. If you are a stranger, and have an ounce of sense, you don't drive up to a home and bebop up to the door. You pull up, and wait to see if a dog is going to check you out. If the dog isn't aggressive, get out and make friends. If the dog doesn't take kindly to you, give a toot on the horn. When the dog sees that the owner takes you for granted, he will too.

2. I watched this video repeatedly to see if I could determine the dog's intent. I am not an animal behaviorist, but I have approached 100's of farm-houses as a stranger in my life, and this dog is (IMO) not out for blood. He's barking, bouncing, wagging. Dogs that want your ass don't bark, they growl low. They don't bounce or run, they come at you low (and usually slow) with their hackles up. They sure as hell don't wag. Even if they're not exactly friendly, running up to you barking is just a bluff to remind you that you're trespassing.

The cop either doesn't farm country, or doesn't know dogs. He probably freaked out and over-reacted.

3. So far we just have a guy who made a mistake, likely through sheer ignorance. But then he broke the cardinal rule most of us learn by the time we're 10 years old...he tried to cover up his mistake by lying about it. Shooting someone's dog, even through ignorance, is bad, and he would have been disciplined no doubt. But, lying about it....he is guilty of making a false official statement, which IS a crime. He deserves to lose his badge and his job.

4. All that said, if I weren't so jaded by this kind of thing, I would be fucking AMAZED at some of the highly emotional reactions on a site that prides itself for intelligent discourse:

a) He deserves to have his pig brains blown out!
b) Fuck you, dirty hippies! I would have shot the dog in a hearbeat!
c) All cops are worthless belt-hitching redneck scum whose guns are Freudian cocks!
d) Cops are heroic civil servants who put their life on the line every day.

SHEESH!!

[Paul]

Terrible behavior by the cop.

I am not sure what the point of posting this was, however.

You answered your own question.

[Kant feel Pietzsche]

Hey Local Guy: I'm curious, what was a Grady Co. deputy doing in Blanchard anyway? Blanchard is McClain Co., yes?

[matt]

I am a police officer, firearms and use of force instructor and I have to say there is no justification for this deputy's actions. If my safety was threatened by a dog I would shoot it too, if I had too, and in fairness, it's easy to play Monday Morning QB, but in my opinion that dog clearly did not pose a threat. Furthermore, the amount of time that passed from when the officer saw the dog (he reached for his gun) he had plenty of time to get to a safe location, ie, inside his cruiser (instead he paused by the wheel well and let the dog approach). It would be a different story if he was there to make an arrest or conduct an urgent investigation in which case he cannot allow the dog to impede, in which case there are still other options. I am very pro cop, and usually find my self defending their use of force choices in forums like these, but this was inexcusable.

That being said, I am appalled and embarrassed at how idiotic most of these comments are. I understand people's outrage, but are you fucking kidding me? Don't any of you have anything constructive to contribute, or anything that makes sense for that matter? Do you people have any brains in your heads?!?!?

@Gabe - You're an idiot
@Lamar - You're an idiot
@Miche - You're an idiot
@bigbigslacker - did you even watch the video, they never said the cop wasn't a cop, they said the passenger wasn't a cop, but a dispatcher. Get a clue moron. btw, You're an idiot!

@the rest of you knuckleheads(apologies to the few that aren't) - If you want go characterize every cop by this one cops actions then by that reasoning it is reasonable for the next cop you deal with to lump you in with the last child raping meth addict that he/she delt with. I find you generalizations absurd and ignorant.

[matt]

@Kant feel Pietzsche

Good points and well said.

[Andy B]

I love Animals.....

BUT!...Had that dog been on a leash, he'd be eating a tin of Alpo? at this moment. I'm a letter carrier and have been bitten 3 times severley in 18 years....a few more minor bites at that. There is NO way to judge a dog's demeanor until it's too late. If a dog makes a beeline at me like that, my pepper spray is in his face (9mm if they supplied me one)...This officer is NOT to blame, it's the owner who DID NOT put poor "Bruiser" on a leash.... HOw dare she go after that cop....

[Ed]

"This officer is NOT to blame, it's the owner who DID NOT put poor "Bruiser" on a leash.... HOw dare she go after that cop...."

A dog I had for 11 years died recently, and let me tell you it was extremely painful experience. It affected me for weeks, and it was the first time I've lost somoene close to me. That dog was like a member of my family, and for you to have the balls to say that the dog and the owner got what they deserved, thats really dispicable. Sir, there is a difference between pepper spray and a bullet, and between a mailman and an officer who deals with for more dangerous things then a dog running at him.

[kapow]

I was in the Border Patrol and was a Customs Agent. I worked in Law Enforcement for a long time. The fact is police have the ability to take advantage of situations to satisfy their insanity. The average person would never shoot a dog in this situation. This cop is not average and is always looking for an opportunity to kill or abuse. Who's next?

[kaper]

"A dog I had for 11 years died recently, and let me tell you it was extremely painful experience. It affected me for weeks, and it was the first time I've lost somoene close to me. That dog was like a member of my family, and for you to have the balls to say that the dog and the owner got what they deserved, thats really dispicable. Sir, there is a difference between pepper spray and a bullet, and between a mailman and an officer who deals with for more dangerous things then a dog running at him."

Stop your whining. How about I show you a video of some dog attack victims, i'm sure you'd shoot any dog running at you viciously without a leash. How dare that stupid woman try and go after a cop when she cant even keep her own dog from attacking him.

[Biloxi]

Genetically modified brains. Americans have been purposely engineered and it shows every time a cop does this, and what is worse are the comments in support of the cops. We have more humans in prison than in the GULAGS in Russia, but hey, Americans have been purposely genetically modified in their most important organ -- THINK THE BRAIN -- and it shows in how American humans support killing, in every fashion. Don't believe it? Just take a survey in the cop profession.

READ: SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION, by F. William Engdahl.

Then those who do not understand why the brain dead are running the US, can map the new direction of the country.

Think about it for just a minute -- how can SHRUNKEN HEADS think?

That is precisely what just about every COP has -- SHRUNKEN BRAIN/S!

From where? too many GENETICALLY MODIFIED DOUGHNUTS!

Read Bill Engdahl's book should you doubt this unequivocal fact/truth.

[Cracker\'s Boy]

By the way... I have carried a gun every day, almost every where, ("except in Government Buildings, public meetings and places where alcohol is served by the drink") and have had large dogs run towards me many times.

I have YET to shoot a dog.

But then, I'm not a policeman. If I did it, there would be consequences.

CB

[FrigginRandom]

Judging by the curly fur and genuinely good nature of these dogs it would have only licked him too death. what a bastard.

[Andrew]

The people from Reddit invading this thread has started to make me think maybe Hit & Run should have registration and a 24-hour waiting period before posting like Fark.

[Shirt]

Relevant editorial from the Ft Worth Star Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/212/story/936655.html

[X]

the "relevant" editorial was written by a cop's wife about the need to kill dogs as a matter of routine on drug busts. not really relevant at all since this cop had no good reason for even being at the home except he was lost. and fearful.

[anonymous]

Just FWIW: I was once charged by two dogs. I didn't have a car to retreat into or get on top of, and I had a heavy pack on me, so running wasn't much of an option. I also had a 12-gauge shotgun on me. You know what? I didn't shoot. I made the snap decision to wait as long as I could, buttstroke the dogs if I needed, shoot if I had to. The dogs ended up pulling up short, barking a few times, then leaving me alone. Did I feel worried? Sure. Did I consider using my gun? Sure. But evidently I've got more sense than an Okie policeman. Looking at that video, the cop doesn't look like somebody who thought he was seriously threatened - he steps forward, then draws his gun, takes a step back, and shoots.

I think the reactions of "shoot the cop" are a little strong, but if the PD has something like a dishonorable discharge, he deserves it in spades. Let him spend the rest of his life explaining that he got kicked off the force because he was too damn irresponsible to be allowed to be a cop, that'd be a pretty good punishment.

[Rex]

"Ohh the cop was right." Politeness goes out the door when you say this.
fuck you, fuck who you are fuck your children and your family and your job.
If an officer came on my property and shot my dog I'd beat the loving shit out of him right there. If not I'd wait. I'd ruin his life. Make him lose his job, hound him at work Make his family hate him and do whatever I could to fuck his wife video tape it and show to to him.
I would break his will to live.

Defend cops, maybe there are good cops, but good cops who do NOTHING about bad cops are GUILTY if you have a father who is a cop and he knew even a single incident of another cop abusing his power HE is just as bad. I have no tolerance for this.

Sean Knight is the guys name. I'm tired of sitting here talking about this shit. If you people are all so fed up with this behavior I would organize and basically make everyone he knows hate him. That is the punishment for this kind of behavior.

"If I saw a dog running at me..." blah blah blah. I'd pet it. Grow a sack you fucking pussies your irrational fear of dogs is unsettling and immature.

To the guy who said his girlfriends pets would have to go. Fuck you. Grow a set break up with her

[rex]

No the dog wasn't attacking him.
This is now fact. deal with it.

[James]

Here in Texas, if that cop had shot my dog, the cop would also be dead.

[Shirt]

re X @ 1:42: Perhaps I should have said "related" article instead of "relevant". In any case, she's verifying the belief held by many who comment on this site that the killing of animals by police is not only accepted, but taught as a matter of policy. And if one accepts the LEO tenet that they must control every variable in each encounter with us "civilians" lest something untoward befall them, then her point of view makes sense. But better would be for the police not to create such volatile situations to begin with. In any case, I haven't seen the video, but from most descriptions I've read, it sounds like the cop had other options he could have taken to ensure his safety before discharging his weapon.

[Anonymous]

Three times in my life, I have heard "awwww ... it's O.K., he doesn't bite," RIGHT BEFORE they bit me.

Dogs may be a part of your family, but not mine, and I always love the owner's characterization in these cases that their pit bull was a sweet little fluffy thing.

I can say this, don't send your dog running up to me either.

[murray]

I hope she wins some big bucks. I hope the cop loses his ability to carry a weapon.

[Andy B]

"Ed | October 24, 2008, 3:34am | #

"This officer is NOT to blame, it's the owner who DID NOT put poor "Bruiser" on a leash.... HOw dare she go after that cop...."

A dog I had for 11 years died recently, and let me tell you it was extremely painful experience. It affected me for weeks, and it was the first time I've lost somoene close to me. That dog was like a member of my family, and for you to have the balls to say that the dog and the owner got what they deserved, thats really dispicable. Sir, there is a difference between pepper spray and a bullet, and between a mailman and an officer who deals with for more dangerous things then a dog running at him." >

Ed, I never said the owner and MORE specifically the dog got what they deserved...The dog definetly didn't get what he deserved! The entire situation sucks and is terrible. What is even more so, was that it was so easily preventable had the poor dog been on a leash! Geezus, I can't believe many here are missing the point. I LOVE animals and have pets of my own, and given this, I take measures to ensure they (and my liabilty to litigation) are safe.
Yes I'm merely a letter carrier...and given that, I have to encroach on 100's of properties daily. Walk a week in my shoes and you MAY see where I'm coming from....It's freaking scary!
And if you don't think a strange dog running up on you at break neck speed is scary, then ask yourself why armed police units so often operate rely on K-9 units, which are highly effective....

[Jimmy Havok]

Google police shoot dog Results 1 - 10 of about 3,910,000

So...is this a rare occurrence, or not?

[Google marksman]

Jimmy, much as I sympathize, that's not how to google with accuracy.

[Kent McManigal]

Typical LEO (Liberty Eradication Operative) behavior. Why does this still surprise anyone?

[Jack]

i live in the uk and anyone who does this would e evil. this man is stupid. and why if the passenger wasn't arrested, was he in a squad car?

fucking bag of pig shit. wanker

[bt]

That's bs...I would have to think there would be a huge gun fight at my house if a cop pulled in my drive way and did that! There are many good cops out there and a few bad ones. This is one of the bad ones. I hope he gets fired and sued by the home owner for lots of $$.

[Brad Kinsey]

For starters, as someone who has handled dogs his entire life, that was not an attack run by Bruiser.

The cop had multiple other options in dealing with what he deemed an aggressive animal just like there are options in dealing with an aggressive person. You simply can not always shoot first.

I see many issues here:

1] Cop discharged his weapon in what is likely a residential area and at a hard surface likely to result in ricochette. Pathetic use of his weapon...absolutely pathetic.
2] Cop exercised poor judgement and situational awareness.
3] Cop is obviously not experienced enough or mature enough to handle a potentially tense situation in the proper manner.

I went through the same thing a few years ago when our Rottie got off her tie out. We did not have a fenced inback yard. Our gal barked at the neighbor, from our yard, and the neighbor freaked and called the cops. Cop shows up, my dog comes to the front yard and barks at the cop...great big old Rottie bark....she did not charge and the Cop later confirmed that...she just simply let out 3 or 4 big, rolling Rottie barks. Cop discharges two rounds in my front yard in a heavy residential neighborhood...towards my house...trying to kil my dog in my yard...two unaccounted for rounds.

My dog flees because it scares her. Cop chases her down and kills her in the fire department parking lot just around the corner and within sight of my house. He did not call animal control, he did not do anything else he could have done. He did not even talk to the neighbor to access the situation and determine what to do.

She had on her collar and all her tags. She had never bitten anyone nor had we ever had any brush with the law regarding her. She was highly trained, very loyal and utterly sweet. She died in my wifes arms.

While unforunate that she slipped out of her collar, and that being the only thing we could have tried to control better, this "Cop" said he was in fear for his life which made it justified. I asked if she bit him, the answer was no. I asked if she charged, the answer again, no.

When I asked regarding the two rounds he fired and what could have been serious collateral damage I was met with a look of complete ignorance. I informed him of the neighbors in their nearby homes, the kids playing in yards and passersby on the street. All seemed like news to him.

Can't successfully sue the PD or the city...no statute in my states books that allowed for any compensation. My dog was dead and some pathetic excuse for someone sworn to serve and protect went free.

Only thing we managed was a reprimand in his file for discharging his weapon in the area and using poor judgement.

I know many good folks in LE many....but there are more bad apples than good.

I think this cop in Oklahoma is a danger to the public he serves and that he does not have the judgement needed to be a good cop.

[Bad Cop]

The police man in this video had a panic attack. He reacted and did not think about what he was doing. He should not be in the public. Behind a desk would be a better place. Or a meter maid handing out parking tickets. He should be prosecuted, something very wrong if he isn't.

[Jon Jadrich]

What a candy ass of a cop hiding behind the power of that gun. Maybe he's physically a coward.

I am glad for the progress of genetics research
and the underpinnings of violence. Maybe the pool from whence his genes came could be removed. Seriously, not a reprise of Nazism mind you, but a rational approach to the reduction of suffering... Yes, and some of the social science community would cringe...

Okay, now that I've got some of that tangent out of the way, I hope that that twat of a police officer ...

[Alison]

Here is a link to the Blanchard Police Dept website: http://www.blanchardpd.com.

According to the news report at the beginning of the video the shooting was located in Blanchard in McClain County in Oklahoma.

Email them or better yet email the Attorney General of Oklahoma for an investigation.

[Jon]

I'm glad you posted that Alison. Let's go get 'em!

[Jack Burton]

Of course, this is a case of "police must be supermen" syndrome. Everyone is Monday morning quarterbacking this incident. "The cop could have used his taser or his pepperspray" says one person. "The officer could have kicked the dog" says another person. This was not a chihuahua or any comparable small dog. The dog was rather large. Of course, the officer could have leaped a tall building in a single bound. It is silly to say the usual, "If it was me" statement. It wasn't you or me. It was this officer and he made a decision in regards to his personal safety. I guess the dog should have been on a leash, especially since there is a leash law in Grady County. If the owner had followed the law, then she would still have her furry friend. The officer should have cited her for ignoring the leash law.

[Samantha]

No surprise, after working for Animal Control for a number of years, I seen plenty of dogs come in after being shot by police, out of complete PUSSYdom.

[kristi]

What kind of moron shoots a dog without cause. Okay so the dog was running toward him. He was a pretty big guy he could have stopped it without shooting it. He needs to be off the police force and I would sue for more than 25,000. The dog didn't look ferocious. Was it foaming out of the mouth??? Was it growling and spitting at him??? My dogs run to whoever comes in the house or outside because they want to at least give you a once over. PLEASE get the stupid people off the police force!!!!!

[He thinks he is \"totally misj]

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=127490211

Rather he used poor judgement! Read his quote! Watch the video again! The dog was wagging it's tail!

[dogman]

Wow. I thought redneck cops aren't scared of anything but commies and black people?? This one was actually scared of a friendly looking dog. What's next? A cop comes up to your house to borrow sugar and shoots your cat in the face with a RPG??? I mean geez dude

[sathi2000]

I carried a handgun for a few years and was faced with situations of being charged by a dog more than once...I always made sure my car was close enough that I could get back in. Never even occured to me to shoot or even hit someone else's dog for defending its property from a stranger. And my way of thinking, if you're on someone else's property, WITHOUT permission, doesn't matter whether you're a police officer or civilian, and you get dog bit, it's your own fault, not the dog's. Just my opinion.
http://www.mirei.com

[Austin Remodeling Contractors]

I don"t think Ron Paul is a homophobe; I"m just cynical and enjoy getting supporters of political candidates riled up. If you were a Giuliani guy I"d have called him a fascist. But I must say, the Ron Paul supporters are the most enthusiast?ic of the bunch!"We'll see worse hackery before this campaign is done.

[Sarah Meister]

Wow, this is horrible. I thought I'd be ok watching it but it wasn't easy. He didn't have to shoot the dog. He just didn't.

http://bullysticksfordogs.com/

[nasim]

There are many many incidents like this unfortunately. And if a suspect kills a K-9 Police dog even if the dog is hurting him, he gets jailed for "murdering a police officer". The fact is our dogs and other pets can be like family members to us. If this happened to me? I would view it as if the cop had shot a member of my family and he would be dealt with accordingly. No joke, no games. Dead cop.
Austin Roofing Contractor

[Nike Dunk High]

thanks

[Nike Dunk High]

thanks

[rocks2010]

I understand libertarian opposition to any type of government-sanctioned marriage, but his opposition is selective, targeting only gays and thus exalting heterosexuals with a special government-determined status. The only thing worse than government-sanctioned marriage for all is government-sanctioned marriage for someone, which compounds the inappropriate role of government in regulating personal relationships and contracts.
Mother's Day Flowers