Posted on 05/14/2012 6:32:00 PM PDT by Altariel
Several neighbors in the 1100 block of S.W. Plass Ave. were upset Monday night after a Topeka police officer drew his weapon and shot a dog to death.
“He drew his gun and fired five or six shots,” said neighbor Constantinos Miklas Acton. “He killed that dog dead for no reason.”
Acton said he was painting guttering on the front of his house about 7 p.m. Monday when he saw a uniformed officer approach a neighbor’s house and knock on the door.
Acton said the officer didn’t get an answer so he walked across S.W. Plass Avenue and made contact with Acton. The officer told Acton there had been a call about a barking dog, Acton said. After the two spoke briefly, the officer went back to the house and Acton went back to work. A few minutes later, Acton took a break and saw the dog, a German shepherd and border collie mix, galloping playfully toward the officer.
A few seconds later, shots rang out.
“He knew I saw it,” Acton said. “He really got hot under the collar.”
Topeka police Sgt. Jennifer Cross didn’t release the officer’s name Monday night. She did confirm there had been several calls made about a barking dog and another dog possibly loose in the area.
She said the officer tried to make contact with the dog’s owner, and when the dog approached the officer, “he felt in danger.”
“His training is to protect himself,” Cross said.
Detectives and officers spent more than an hour talking to neighbors. Cross said the investigation is ongoing.
On Monday night, several neighbors watched as police worked in the driveway where the dog was shot at 1181 S.W. Plass.
The owners of the dog, who arrived at the scene after the shooting, were visibly upset.
One woman shouted at a group of officers that she was upset they shot and killed the dog when there are other crimes happening in Topeka.
Neighbor Audrey Dukes said the dog, who neighbors call Dallas, often played with her children and was friendly. Dukes said she saw the dog earlier in the evening without a leash. She added that the dog never was unfriendly toward her three children.
She said she is upset because the officer fired several shots at a “friendly dog when we have a block full of kids outside playing.”
When Dukes tried to talk to the officer who shot the dog and a corporal on the scene, she said she was treated rudely.
“They told me to mind my own business,” Dukes said. “They wouldn’t tell us anything. We had a police officer out here who shot a dog five or six times. I think the Topeka police handled this poorly. There was no way that dog was aggressive. And five or six shots? I don’t know the reason the officer had to shoot Dallas. It’s unbelievable.”
What is that? The white house menu?
such bull$hit
why does this keep happening ?
Because an increasing number of cops have this attitude:
“When Dukes tried to talk to the officer who shot the dog and a corporal on the scene, she said she was treated rudely.
“They told me to mind my own business,” Dukes said. “They wouldn’t tell us anything. We had a police officer out here who shot a dog five or six times. I think the Topeka police handled this poorly. There was no way that dog was aggressive. And five or six shots? I don’t know the reason the officer had to shoot Dallas. It’s unbelievable.””
When their actions are (gasp) questioned by a free citizen, the government employee dares to rebuke her.
Because many cops are cowardly bullies, and apparently have less training in dealing with dogs than my toddlers did.
All cops have this streak in them. The only thing in question is when & where they’ll unload.
The dog shooting Thing is about desensitizing. They’ll eventually graduate to those not opposing them.
There needs to be a grand jury investigation....
Acton should testify...
the Cop needs to go to Prison.
When they shoot or beat innocent people (non-convicted people) we don’t get nearly as upset as when they murder innocent pets.
We are all nuts, in my opinion, they reflect the insanity of the society they serve. We love the innocent dog more than we love the presumption of innocence of person next door.
Don’t mean to take away from the outrage that happened to this family pet. But I want freepers (not you in particular) to realize they need to love unconvicted humans as much as they love unconvicted dogs. Police are being trained to disrespect the criminal justice system of the constitution which would naturally extend from humans to pets.
and another dog shooter earns his merit badge... 
Who here has condemned mistreatment or execution of animals by police (or other government employees working in “law enforcement”), but not condemned mistreatment or murder of humans by police?
You need to read further. There are a few FReepers who believe that cops can do no wrong, but I suggest you look up Jose Guerena or Kelly Thomas in the keywords. A majority is totally against the misuse of police power.
This dog-killing is another facet of the police state which is slowly being imposed. Most of us are outraged by every aspect of the current situation.
I just can't seem to remember cops doing this kind of thing 20 or 30 years ago. Firing a weapon 5 or 6 times in a neighborhood on account of a dog? Shooting a family pet 5 times in a resistential neighborhood?
I think the reason cops do this isn't (necessarily) that they are bullies or psychopaths. I think they do it because they know damned well that they CAN. They know they won't be held accountable. When is the last time any of you read an article of a cop losing his job for unacceptable performance?
It seems these days the cops are more of a problem than the crooks.
“why does this keep happening ?”
Because Americans are allowing it to happen. That’s why.
If every cop who shot a dog unjustifiably was personally sued by the family that owned it and by the surrounding neighbors how fast do you think it would stop?
What if families and/or neighbors brought their guns out and shot the officers shooting their dogs? How long do you think that kind of abuse of power would happen?
Humans have the rule of law and justice.
Dogs do not.
Big difference. Has nothing to do with the amount of compassion for the wrongful deaths of either.
I hate to see any dog shot but the problem started when someone let their dog run loose. There is no reason for anyone (cop or not)to have to chance being mauled by a vicious dog. I would be mad a hell if someone shot my dog but would not blame anyone but myself if I was the one that let him loose in the neighborhood. I feel really bad for the dog and his owners but cops do not have ESP. My dog is as nice as any I have known but could really do some damage if so inclined. Police can instruct another human being to show their hands to or stop but dogs are faster and don’t always respond to strangers. Really sad situation but not criminal without more facts.
“Shooting a family pet 5 times in a resistential neighborhood?”
Proof that typos can be our friends. I like the “resistential “ adjective you created. Shooting dogs without reason should create resistance in all neighborhoods.
Lawsuits, too.
The officer’s response in this situation (towards the dog, the dog’s owner, and the neighbor) was FAR worse than the owner’s failure to have the dog on his property.
If you or I had told the people who pay our salary to “mind their own business”, how long would we draw salary at our employers?
Don’t excuse the behavior of bad officers.
Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were there. Can you tell me what happened?
The article is available above for you to read.
It’s an old story. Bullies with badges and one hell of an attitude.
This is going to happen. Just watch. Not everyone rolls over for these t#rds in blue (or brown).
I don’t agree with you. Any dog running loose is at ease unless he is rabid. How he approaches you tells you his mind set. They radio it.
My opinion on this whole thing is that these “so called officers” have not been trained at all in regards to dogs and are panicking.
I have even gotten in the middle of a dog fight (be careful) and busted it up because one of the dogs was my boss’s.
If you go head on with a charging dog you are going to make him think twice in most cases and he will usually back off and start barking - confrontation OVER.
Educate the “officers”.
How do you know the owner let the dog run loose?
The idiot who checked my termite bait stations left my fence gate unlocked last time.
If my very friendly dog had got loose, I would hope he would NOT be shot by a LEO who is supposed to protect and serve, not unload his or her weapon into my dog.
More and more people are buying guns and lots of them have dogs and love their dogs as family, some more than their family. Think about it.
Do you remember what triggered Ruby Ridge?
I think it is crap that they seem to shoot a lot of dogs. That being said, We really don’t know what happened in this case. You already have your mind made up but I still think an investigation is needed before passing judgement.
Yes, the police do have the privilege of internally investigating an officer before declaring that the investigated officer has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Internal investigations are inherently untrustworthy. Particularly when they are conducted by government agencies.
Are you still waiting for the government to tell you the “Current Truth” or are you willing to believe the eyewitness testimony of those present?
I agree with you in the concrete. Humans are supposed to have the rule of law. But the reality is, they do not.
Psychopaths begin their careers of murder by torturing and killig pets. I suggest to you, that police officers being trained to murder pets is a stepping stone to killing humans.
I don’t separate the progression. The activity of cops raiding homes of innocents to capture the guilty is an example. There is no reason they don’t capture the guilty away from the home of the innocent. Unless they are inure to killin’ which is the whole point of their training to kill.
Plenty. Read a bit. :)
I wonder which dog the COWARD shot and killed.. The German Shepherd or the Border Collie mix.. I own a Border Collie mix.
They are one and the same dog.
“A few minutes later, Acton took a break and saw the dog, a German shepherd and border collie mix, galloping playfully toward the officer.”
Okay, so you can provide plenty of usernames, then.
The cops are NEVER held responsible for their jackboot thug actions.
The FBI shot an innocent kid, an Eagle Scout, in the face when he reached for his seat belt to get out when ordered to. Nobody was punished.
It is so damn heartbreaking.. Day after day we hear about dogs being shot for being dogs.
Goodnight and God bless all.. Hold on tight to your dogs and don’t let them run free anywhere near a cop.. They could get shot.
I remember dogs running loose all the time as a kid before leash laws were introduced. Cops were not shooting them. It was the dog catcher's job to catch them. A loose dog is far less dangerous than a loose gang banger. With your logic, why not approve the cops shooting loose hoodies running at them?
Also, The percentage of cops in hte population is small. There are plenty of non police who carry. Why are we not hearing about these armed citizens shooting dogs off leash? Maybe you need to think about the character of cops who are ready to shoot at the drop of a hat. And I don't think the majority of cops have that urge, just a large minority of them.
Has there been any mention of a video?
I went to the link and looked at the 3 pics. It looks like it was the Shepherd who was shot.
I agree that too many dogs are shot without much thought but take a timeout and let the authorities do their jobs. This is an article written from the dog owner’s perpective(kind of like the race-baiters and the Treyvon Martin shooting)while the police sit back and say no comment
If it happened like the article states, someone should be fired. Until all facts are in, lets stop running around with torches and pitchforks calling for someone’s head. If I believed everything I read, I would have thought George Zimmerman was guilty just because Jessie and Al said so.
A dog attack is not much different than being attacked by a human with a knife. You can stand there and try to judge their intentions but have to react fast if charged otherwise you are in serious trouble. If an armed thug charges a cop, I hope the cop is able to draw and shoot him before he is attacked. No different than with a dog.
Agreed!
If the police are shooting innocent people, we get very upset.
Some thoughts on this, Jack. First, when a citizen discharges a firearm in a residential neighborhood, they are often on the hook for unlawful or reckless discharge of a firearm. We won't see that with this cop. When a citizen defends his or her life with a firearm, the burden of proof must be shown that person's life was in danger. Oftentimes, like the Trayvon case, the shooter was being brutally beaten or had "proof" of being harmed.
In this case, the officer just assumed that the dog was going to attack and killed it.
Now, my line of questioning comes into play: if a law enforcement animal is considered a cop, then animals have been anthropomorphized into free-will creatures, an assessment that is ludicrous on its face. However, if that standard of humanism is applied to a canine, then why can't a family consider their dog just as human with a life just as valuable as that of a child and defend that animal with force?
In essence, I agree with you. If cops can shoot and kill a human to defend a law enforcement canine, then families should be able to defend their pets in the same manner and with the same amount of force, even if that person is a law enforcement officer.
This cop reacted poorly and maliciously, in my opinion, and the family should sue on the grounds that a member of their family was killed much the way a perp can be charged for murder of a law enforcement officer for killing a cop dog.
Today it is dogs. Tomorrow it will be human beings.
Just watch. It’s gonna happen.
You continue to compare apples and pianos.
There are eyewitnesses here testifying to the officer’s behavior. Are you going to believe them, or are you going to wait for the police’s Official Truth on the case?
Do you believe it acceptable for a government employee to EVER say to one who pays his salary “Mind your own business?”
People and dogs ARE different.
People have the ability and inclination to disguise their intentions.
Dogs make their intentions clear to anyone taking the time (a few seconds) to read them.
A dog is not comparable to a man armed with a knife. You are trying to justify this officer.
Yeah, we hear all the time about the numerous innocent policemen getting mauled by family pets because they weren’t quick enough on the draw, huh? You are a phenomenal ratsnake douchebag, and I hope your dog shoots you.
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