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Public outrage builds over police officer who fatally shot dog (Austin, Texas)
KVUE.com ^ | April 16, 2012 | SHELTON GREEN

Posted on 04/17/2012 8:27:51 AM PDT by Timber Rattler

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To: Timber Rattler
I'm glad it went viral. It's ugly as hell and people need to be aware of it. But I'd bet good money that nothing will happen to Griffin.

Stuff like this is leading lots of law-abiding Americans, myself included, to develop a deep and abiding mistrust of the police. My driving drill now dictates exiting the roadway as soon as I can when one is behind me. Why take the chance that they will find a pretext to pull me over and harass me? I definitely would not call them for any reason short of mayhem.

61 posted on 04/17/2012 10:54:12 AM PDT by jboot
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To: Timber Rattler

Tis is a horrible one where the owner and dog were just playing when the cops showed up at the wrong house and killed a dog ho was in his won yard with his owner.Someone needs to be fired for this one.


62 posted on 04/17/2012 10:57:13 AM PDT by chris_bdba
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To: imardmd1

You’re an idiot. The LEO was on private property with his gun drawn, yelling at the owner to put his hands up. The owner was not given a chance to control his dog. The cop was out of line and out of control. And, at the wrong address to boot!


63 posted on 04/17/2012 11:04:42 AM PDT by BLOC77 (bloc07)
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To: jboot
Stuff like this is leading lots of law-abiding Americans, myself included, to develop a deep and abiding mistrust of the police. My driving drill now dictates exiting the roadway as soon as I can when one is behind me. Why take the chance that they will find a pretext to pull me over and harass me? I definitely would not call them for any reason short of mayhem.

I'm already there, based on a couple of personal highway incidents with local county deputies, who approached and treated me like I was a Muslim terrorist in downtown Baghdad during routine traffic stops, and then brazenly lied in court about the driving citations they gave to me at the time. I got a lawyer and won both cases, but my respect and trust of LEOs was destroyed forever because of their behavior.

64 posted on 04/17/2012 11:04:57 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: Gator113

Mr. famous detective, please read this thread - what is your call on this? What did you experience with dogs, if you did? What was the rule about dogs or was there one?


65 posted on 04/17/2012 11:05:02 AM PDT by Marcella (God will decide the future - trust Him and no other.)
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To: imardmd1
"Publically-accessible property"...tricky term. That's basically everywhere.

That said, if you kill my animal on my property-"village" or rural-you will be lucky to live to regret it. You aren't the only one carrying and willing to shoot.

66 posted on 04/17/2012 11:06:39 AM PDT by jboot
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To: jboot

I’m the same way, I avoid any contact. One of the problems is the age factor. In Oakland, four LEOs retire every month and they are replaced by young inexperiened kids. And you’re right, nothing will happen to Griffin. That poor dog. One minute playing frisbee, the next shot in the chest.


67 posted on 04/17/2012 11:14:51 AM PDT by BLOC77 (bloc07)
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To: Timber Rattler
I've been pulled over 4 times in the past two years, always for BS reasons. None of the incidents ever resulted in me getting a ticket, because in no case had I actually broken the law. In each case it seemed like the LEO was simply bored and itching for action.

I now often transport animals, so I have additional reasons to avoid confrontations with the cops.

68 posted on 04/17/2012 11:17:48 AM PDT by jboot
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To: Timber Rattler

Poster said, “In this case under discussion, whether the LEO was mistaken in the address or not, if the owner did not, would not, or could not control his animal with intent to harm the officer, the animal should be put down.”

You said, “You gotta be kidding!!! Did you even watch the camvideo of the incident?”

Poster said, “I further contend that the owner ought to be arrested as possessing a deadly weapon with intent to use.”

You said, “Are you crazy???”

My Yorkie loves the UPS lady just like she loves everyone else. Yorkie watches for the UPS truck every day and goes totally crazy if truck stops and the UPS lady approaches the door. I pick up Yorkie and hand her to UPS lady while I take the package. It makes the UPS lady’s day and Yorkie’s day.

However, some people are afraid of any dog. I think that cop would have shot my Yorkie. I think he is afraid of any dog and he’s going to kill any dog.

Also, remember, Austin is the most liberal city in this state. It is not typical of Texas at all. I doubt there are many bubbas living there. Couldn’t pay me to live in that place.


69 posted on 04/17/2012 11:26:02 AM PDT by Marcella (God will decide the future - trust Him and no other.)
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To: imardmd1

What a retard.


70 posted on 04/17/2012 11:28:13 AM PDT by x1stcav (There's a bunch of us out here spoiling for a fight.)
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To: BLOC77
In Oakland, four LEOs retire every month and they are replaced by young inexperienced kids.

Or ex-military guys, who can't leave the "us-vs-them" attitude behind in Iraq or Afghanistan or wherever they served, and just can't adjust to "peace officer" work within civilian communities. That's the case around here where I live.

71 posted on 04/17/2012 11:31:10 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: jboot

Many of us are completely redoing our every day movements to avoid dealing with cops if at all possible. I simply do not trust them any more and absolutely refuse to be treated in an undignified manner by some steroid-addled punk just out of academy.


72 posted on 04/17/2012 11:31:10 AM PDT by x1stcav (There's a bunch of us out here spoiling for a fight.)
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To: Timber Rattler

Why couldn’t cops carry pepper spray and use that on a dog that scared them? But if one sprayed my Yorkie with it, he would be sorry when I got through with him.


73 posted on 04/17/2012 11:35:54 AM PDT by Marcella (God will decide the future - trust Him and no other.)
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To: BLOC77
Age is definitelty a factor. I grew up out in the boondocks. Forty years ago there were always uniformed troopers on their rounds stopping by for coffee or to swap yarns with my grandad. They were always friendly and took the time to talk to me, even though I was just a kid. I grew up in awe of the man with a badge.

That was then and this is now.

74 posted on 04/17/2012 11:38:15 AM PDT by jboot
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To: momtothree

I was being sarcastic. But, think about it. The Humane Society is always having to kill dogs. So, call the cops and let them kill them since they seem to really enjoy killing dogs.


75 posted on 04/17/2012 11:57:03 AM PDT by Terry Mross
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To: Terry Mross

Dig that hole deeper, she is going to get you.


76 posted on 04/17/2012 12:09:28 PM PDT by Ratman83
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To: imardmd1

Do you belong to a government union? If so, I have two words that should chill you to the bone - PENSION REFORM


77 posted on 04/17/2012 12:24:39 PM PDT by Ken H (Austerity is the irresistible force. Entitlements are the immovable object.)
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To: Marcella

I have been retired for 10 years and I have not looked back, so I am not very famous... LOL

-What is your call on this?

I don’t like making a call on any of these types of cases without ALL of the facts and we never get them on the media and the internet. For example, exactly what information did dispatch give to the officer....? Why did he feel it necessary to jump out of the car with his gun drawn? Did he see the dog running at the car before or after he exited the car? Some would argue with me, but not all emergencies are emergencies.... I used to call it the “911 mentality”.

However, if the officer is found to be within the law and in compliance with dept. policy, the most that will happen to him will be a letter placed in his personnel file. The department may very well be found liable for the dogs death and damages in a civil court. If it were me, I’d sue.

-What did you experience with dogs, if you did?

I dealt with hundreds of dogs over the years. Some were good, some not so friendly. I carried dog treats, just like the UPS guys do and I also carried pepper spray. Unlike most cops, I also carried a dog sleeve in my trunk, although I never found it necessary to use it. The closest I have ever been bitten... was from my own dog. LOL

I have fed a few dogs, tossed them treats, but I never found it necessary to pepper spray a dog. I NEVER found it necessary to shoot a dog. I ran a drug task force for 6 years, executing search warrants and high risk entries was very much part of the job.

-What was the rule about dogs or was there one?

Our department policy was very much like the one in the article. I worked for a Sheriff’s Department and not once in my entire 30 years did ANY Deputy shoot a dog.

*****

What I have seen over the past few years in the ever growing frequency of LEO involved dog shootings is simply ridiculous. Some may very well be justified and I am sure some are, but the numbers speak for themselves.

It actually takes far more than a degree, ability to pass a written test and a gun to be a good cop, it actually takes guts, integrity and commonsense. I didn’t like John Wayne cops and I didn’t like cowards or crooks and those kinds of cops were scared to death to work for me because they knew they were doomed. Every one of them knew that working for me was a career move, up, down or out.

Unfortunately, we are forced to select cops from the human race. Life is like a box of chocolates...some pieces might actually have worms. LOL

NOTE: Any cop hater thinking of arguing with me on any of this is wasting their time... I already know that I am right and you are wrong. LOL


78 posted on 04/17/2012 12:26:45 PM PDT by Gator113 (***YOU GAVE it to Obama. I would have voted for NEWT.~Just livin' life, my way~)
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To: Terry Mross

I’m glad you were being sarcastic! No... I won’t think about a cop shooting some poodle in the head so he or she can feel all “warm and fuzzy” inside. Nope.. not going to do it. LOL!


79 posted on 04/17/2012 12:37:10 PM PDT by momtothree
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To: BLOC77; jboot; Ratman83; Timber Rattler
You’re an idiot.

Not according to the preliminary evaluation by APD. They say the same.

The LEO was on private property with his gun drawn, yelling at the owner to put his hands up.

Yes, good for him! For your information, domestic disturbance is one of the most extremely dangerous situations for an LEO that exists. Hence his gun drawn, which is his rightful and safe approach. What do you do when an officer, clearly in uniform, and vested with arrest powers, commands you to stop and put your hands up? If you care for your life at all, you stop and put your hands up and DO NOT ARGUE WITH HIM!

The owner was not given a chance to control his dog.

The dog was not under his control (as it should have been), not trained to refrain from attacking a stranger, and therefore terminated. If a person came furiously and aggressively shouting with apparent intent to harm the officer with a dangerous weapon, would he not have shot that person? Wake up!

The cop was out of line and out of control.

Actually, no, he was not. He was under control of the situation. Of course, he knew the occupant might not expect him and be surprised. He was quite prepared for such an event, any event, and acted accordingly. He was pronounced to have done so by his administration, quite rightly.

And, at the wrong address to boot!

He was at the address to which he was directed by the dispatcher. Please note that the mistake was not his. He was in the pursuit of accomplishing his orders. He was not unlawfully entering a residence, only on a property lawfully. Perhaps he heard commotion at the rear of the house. What would you have done, in his position, without backup? It might well have been a life-threatening altercation in progress, with an aggressive animal coming at you.

Who is the idiot here?

Clearly, we have a population trained during and since the 'late '60s and '70s to despise and defy, rather than respect properly constituted authority, especially in the local law officers. They can be wrong, but you risk your life and well-being in being predisposed to resist an LEO, even if they are.

The dog was in the wrong; the LEO was not. In my book, in this case, he gets an A plus.

The owner was negligent in the dog's attitude. The dog-owner gets an F in the dog-obedience course. He heard his dog's behavior and did not immediately curb it.

To me, the FR responders who are more concerned for the dog's welfare than for that of the responding officer have a greatly misplaced compassion.

80 posted on 04/17/2012 12:47:14 PM PDT by imardmd1 (Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good...he beareth not the sword in vain)
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