Public outrage builds over police officer who fatally shot dog (Austin, Texas)

KVUE.com ^ | April 16, 2012 | SHELTON GREEN

[Timber Rattler]

AUSTIN – The fatal shooting of a pet dog by an Austin Police Department officer over the weekend is sparking outrage near and far.

As of Monday evening, close to 22,000 people had hit the "Like" button on a Facebook page called “Justice for Cisco,” the name of Austinite Michael Paxton's dog, which was killed by an officer.

[Timber Rattler]

Long story short: A 911 caller in Austin reported a domestic disturbance but gave the wrong address to the dispatcher. A LEO responded at the wrong address, drew his gun on the innocent homeowner, and then shot his dog.

The police chief's response?

“We're sorry that the dog owner lost his dog over the incident," said Sgt. Daniels. "It's an unfortunate situation, but the officer was basically in retreat, and he fired his weapon in self-defense.”

Unbelievable.

[Yashcheritsiy]

Well it’s obvious that the officer was in fear of his life and needed to shoot the dog to protect himself from mortal danger. He probably should have shot the homeowner too, just to be sure.

/FR bootlicks

[SkyDancer]

"Hands up!"

"Control Your Dog!"

"How?"

"Bang Bang"

All in four seconds? How was the cop retreating??

Good thing the homeowner didn't comply because the cop would have said he was escaping and shot the homeowner too.

[sam_paine]

Police Chief Acevedo is trying to muscle in on the dogcatchers jobs.

Neighbor’s dog bothering you? Just call in a report that the dog’s owners sound like they “may” be having a domestic disturbance. Boom. Cops are dispatched and shoot the dog for you...possibly cuffing your neighbor for counseling as well! Bonus!

[Envisioning]

"Hands up!"

"Control Your Dog!"

"How?"

"Bang Bang"

All in four seconds? How was the cop retreating??

Good thing the homeowner didn't comply because the cop would have said he was escaping and shot the homeowner too.

No kidding. WTF is the deal with cops shooting dogs?

You shoot my dog in front of me for no reason, you BETTER be ready to shoot me too!

Austin's finest need some training in shoot/don't shoot scenarios.

[X-spurt]

Easily beleivable in AUSTIN!!!

[Paine in the Neck]

Confusion reigned in this one. 911 caller got info wrong, dispatcher didn’t get/give description of alleged perp. Cop yells conflicting commands - “Put your hands up; get your dog”. Dog owner, looking down barrel of cop’s gun, is confused by commands, doesn’t grab dog in 1-2 seconds allowed before cop shoots.

[shadeaud]

Austin, the liberal capital of Texas, is getting serious about neutering your pet laws.

[SkyDancer]

I’m thinking that one of these days a cop will shoot the wrong dog. Just saying.

[evets]

Austin Police Chief hospitalized with chest pains
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo was taken to an Austin hospital Monday
afternoon by ambulance for minor chest pains, he said this morning.
Acevedo was kept overnight for observation and is expected to be released this morning.
City and police officials had declined to comment about his condition Monday night.
“I’m fine,” Acevedo said. “I appreciate everyone’s concern and well wishes.”
Acevedo called in to KLBJ FM’s Dudley and Bob show this morning to speak to Michael Paxton,
whose dog was fatally shot Saturday afternoon by an Austin police officer who officials have said was defending himself.
Acevedo apologized to Paxton and said an investigation is under way, which he said is standard when officers discharge a weapon.
Statesman.com

[x1stcav]

One of these days one of these douche-bag dog-killing cops is going to kill someone’s dog and is going to find himself offed.

This crap has got to stop.

[Terry Mross]

Domestic disturbance calls are one of the most dangerous call a cop can get. However, when I was a cop we NEVER pulled out weapons unless we were sure there was a threat to someone.

The Humane Society should have a firing range for cops. Whenever they have animals to put down just call the cops and tell them they got some dogs they need to have shot. This way the cops can get it out of their systems.

[sam_paine]

Confusion reigned in this one. 911 caller got info wrong, dispatcher didn’t get/give description of alleged perp. Cop yells conflicting commands - “Put your hands up; get your dog”. Dog owner, looking down barrel of cop’s gun, is confused by commands, doesn’t grab dog in 1-2 seconds allowed before cop shoots.

Problem is, there's no confusion AFTER this.

The rank and file cops are learning that Chief Acevedo has their back completely against the pesky citizens. They're learning that if there is any doubt whatsoever, pull the trigger and the Chief will back you up. Suck it up liberals. Here's your multicultural police state you wanted.

[sam_paine]

Domestic disturbance calls are one of the most dangerous call a cop can get.

Then why did the cop get out and enter the "most dangerous situation" WITHOUT BACKUP?

The cop drove by, did not hear any disturbance and called the dispatch for verification.

The second cop car showed up after the shot was fired.

If there had been a domestic abuse case, then the fight would already be over with by the time this idiot finished harassing this guy and his dog.

[sam_paine]

Acevedo apologized to Paxton and said an investigation is under way, which he said is standard when officers discharge a weapon.

Yesterday KLBJ AM reported that the officer was NOT taken off duty immediately and there WAS NOT an investigation underway because the situation did not warrant it.

[Sans-Culotte]

I’m afraid I would have come to harm from the officer if this were my dog at my house. One thing is for sure: I would get even.

[Red Badger]

Was he wearing a hoodie?..........

[arthurus]

Owning a dog is a bit of an insurance policy against being shot by police. Police everywhere are developing or have developed the expectation that if they are called to any sort of disturbance at a home they are entitled to fire their weapons at some living creature. A dog is the designated first choice of target and the only legitimate target if the citizens at the call are unarmed. If there is no dog, however...

[Terry Mross]

Hey, I’m with you!

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[arthurus]

Austin's finest need some training in shoot/don't shoot scenarios.

I suspect they have had that training and what is happening is the results of that training.

[arthurus]

Suck it up liberals. Here's your multicultural police state you wanted.

The liberals I know love it. They think they are immune and only blacks, rednecks, and conservatives get their dogs or themselves shot when police get calls to homes.

[sam_paine]

Hey, I’m with you!

Hey! Better not admit that out loud! (Sorry. You just teed up my rant, not teed me off.)

[sam_paine]

One of these days one of these douche-bag dog-killing cops is going to kill someone’s dog and is going to find himself offed.

This is why I don't understand the official Public Information Officer's reaction yesterday "All procedures were followed."

Not a word about how to address the problem that apparently anyone can just call in a wrong address or misread a number and whoever gets shot, well, that's their problem.

ALL PROCEDURES here, then, are proved to be insufficient to protect the public. THE PROCEDURES allowed the domestic disturbance (the college newspaper actually found them...the cops didn't) THE procedures got a dog shot. The procedures had an innocent man with his hands in the air with a cop shouting incoherent commands to him ("hands up! control your dog!"). And what? Chief Acevedo is "sorry."

So what? Now what?

All of this on the heels of a officer funeral where they ran the procession in a complete loop around the city in order to block as much traffic as possible. The people MUST kneel to their masters!

[afraidfortherepublic]

I’m seriously getting worried about my sweet, gentle, and aging Golden Retriever. He’s 11; and as he ages, he sort of groans, or sighs, when getting up and down. Somebody could mistake that sound for a growl. It’s the same sound I make when getting up and down since I damaged my knee slipping on the ice earlier this winter.

This rash of dog killings is getting worrisome.

[EdReform]

Precisely

[freekitty]

this has got to stop.

[Envisioning]

I’m thinking that one of these days a cop will shoot the wrong dog. Just saying.

Yep, especially if it's mine!

And, they better be a good shot, because my dog WILL go for the gun! For real! I can't shoot with her around anymore because of this....have to lock her up. Not sure where she got that from? Natural instinct I guess.

[LaRueLaDue]

After some of the dog-killing cops disappear a few weeks after shooting a dog, it will stop.

[GBA]

I wonder what a poll would say if people were asked if they would shoot someone, even a police officer, to prevent that person from killing their dog or cat.

Gun sales are on the rise, you know.

Years ago, a deputy sheriff shot a friend's dog in their back yard in Colorado.

They were in their backyard tending their trash fire they had burning in an old oil barrel.

Apparently, the deputy saw the smoke and was walking around their house to the back yard to see what was going on.

No one knew he was there and when he came around the house, he surprised their old german shepherd, who naturally barked and headed over to see who he was.

He pulled out his gun and shot her dead, right in front of them and their toddler son.

I heard they reassigned him. "Sorry about the dog."

Thing is, if that had happened in 2012 instead of 20 years ago, all three of them would have put holes through that deputy.

They won't be letting something like that happen again.

[PeterPrinciple]

this has got to stop

---

well, maybe if we pass some laws, that will fix it.................

[LoneStarGI]

There was some more info on the local news here in Austin this morning. Apparently the owner and his dog were playing catch in the back yard. The owner heard the sirens out front and went to investigate and that’s where the cop pulled his gun. The owner’s dog got out of the back yard and came running up and was barking. Not making judgement on this case but thought would offer some more info.

[momtothree]

“The Humane Society should have a firing range for cops... this way the cops can get it out of their systems”.

Are you serious?!! Get it out of their systems?

[SouthTexas]

Was he wearing a hoodie?..........

Dog or cop?

[Sans-Culotte]

I saw the video. The cop is black, the “perp” (dog-owner) is white. Nothing to see here.

[Jack Hydrazine]

“Well it’s obvious that the officer was in fear of his life and needed to shoot the dog to protect himself from mortal danger. He probably should have shot the homeowner too, just to be sure.”

Default shooting of the dog AND homeowner or resident(s) will become SOP in the not-so-distant future.

[Leep]

I just glad the dog wasn’t black.

[nobamanomore]

I fail to see any reason to not sue the crap out of them. A wrong address, no reason to be there, shooting a dog. It is idiocy. I have always had a working breed dog, currently a Malinois, her job is to confront strangers. I would not take kindly to an officer walking up to my house with gun drawn, dog or not.

[Iscool]

I’m afraid I would have come to harm from the officer if this were my dog at my house. One thing is for sure: I would get even.

You shoot a police dog, you go to prison for murdering a police officer, or killed first...

A cop shoots your dog and he gets a paid vacation...Something incredibly wrong with that picture...

[Jack Hydrazine]

“I’m thinking that one of these days a cop will shoot the wrong dog. Just saying.”

When, not if, this happens will the homeowner/resident be able to claim self defense to the court? Let’s assume it happens in Texas.

[bgill]

What confusion? There was no reason for “confusion” at that house. All was quiet until the cop went onto the property with gun drawn and yelling. Like he couldn’t have knocked on the door like a civilized person or waited patiently until the owner came out and put the dog away. Geez, dogs bark. That’s what they do, especially if someone comes on the property yelling and threatening their owners.

[momtothree]

Absolutely agree. We have a GSD... and his purpose (other than being a family loved pet) is one of protection. Unless a lot more is learned about this incident, the department owes the family a new dog IMHO.

[jboot]

The "officer" that shot Cisco is named Thomas Griffin. More details (and a link to the dashcam video) here.

[jboot]

Heh, the FR bootlicker brigade won’t show up on this thread. They’ll be whining to each other deep down on some off-topic thread or hiding out in Bloggers and Personal.

[Jack Hydrazine]

“Confusion reigned in this one. 911 caller got info wrong, dispatcher didn’t get/give description of alleged perp. Cop yells conflicting commands - “Put your hands up; get your dog”. Dog owner, looking down barrel of cop’s gun, is confused by commands, doesn’t grab dog in 1-2 seconds allowed before cop shoots.”

Reminds me of that scene from the movie, “Raising Arizona.”

(Gale and Evelle Snoats go into a bank to rob it and draw their guns.)
Gale: All right, ya hayseeds, it’s a stick-up. Everybody freeze. Everybody down on the ground.
Feisty Hayseed: Well, which is it, young feller? You want I should freeze or get down on the ground? Mean to say, if’n I freeze, I can’t rightly drop. And if’n I drop, I’m a-gonna be in motion. You see...
Gale: Shut up!
Feisty Hayseed: Okay then.
Gale: Everybody down on the ground!
Evelle: Y’all can just forget that part about freezin’ now.
Gale: Better still to get down there.
Evelle: Yeah, y’all hear that, don’t ya?
[Everybody lays down. Gale looks at the now-empty teller windows]
Gale: S%$t! Where’d all the tellers go?
Teller’s voices: We’re down here, sir.
Evelle: They’re on the floor as you commanded, Gale.

[Jack Hydrazine]

I think he was being sarcastic!

[Jack Hydrazine]

Does the cop look like Obama’s son? Did the cop say before shooting the dog, “This one’s for Trayvon!”?

[sam_paine]

What confusion? There was no reason for “confusion” at that house.

I didn't write the "confusion reigned" comment, that was a comment upthread from Paine in the Neck, not sam_paine, (the other pain in the neck.)

But you know the answer to your question. There is confusion at that house because the resident assumed he was a free citizen and the cop assumes he's the ultimate dictator on a power trip. Hence the confusion.

[momtothree]

“... being sarcastic”

I hope so. The image in my mind of cops shooting dogs at the pound completely freaked me out.