Posted on 05/16/2013 6:02:08 AM PDT by Altariel
DACONO, Colo. — A Dacono family is demanding answers from police, after their support dog was shot when he got loose and ran toward a neighbor’s yard Sunday night.
Mongo, a 3-year-old pit bull puppy, is recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest, as his owner, James Vester, is hoping for an apology from Dacono Police.
“I didn’t think I would see that again. You see it in Iraq — and then you see your best friend here get shot,” said Vester, a Marine Corp. sniper, who says he got Mongo, a certified emotional support dog, to alleviate stress after returning from combat.
Vester said he was doing yard work, when Mongo got loose. Minutes later, a neighbor called police because Mongo began barking at her dogs from across a fence. Because Dacono’s animal control officer is off on Sunday’s, two police officers responded to the scene.
According to police reports, when the officers arrived, Mongo became aggressive, allegedly barking, growling and then lunging at an officer. That’s why when the officer opened fired, police said.
Despite the reports, several neighbors had a different take on what happened.
“There was no noise at first, I just heard the gunshot — then the dog started crying,” said Heather Viera, who said she opened her door, but was told to go back inside her home. “I had thought maybe it got hit by a car.”
Another neighbor, Jenny Stevens, was just a few hundred feet down the street, walking her two dogs, when she heard the shot fired.
“There was no barking. It was dead silent — There was not a bark, there wasn’t a growl,” said Stevens. “The cop did not say stop to the dog, the cop didn’t yell anything.”
We brought the neighbor’s accounts to the Dacono Police Chief Matthew B. Skaggs, who told us that an internal investigation was being conducted, but that according to the testimony of critical witnesses, the officers did folllow protocol.
“I think it is important to remember these things develop very quickly,” said Skaggs. “If you look in the report, the officer did say specifically that the dog got within six feet of him and at that point he felt like it was his only option.”
Though, Mongo’s owner finds that hard to believe.
“Now I don’t even know what to do, what to think, or how to react,” said Vester. “I just feel dead inside right now.”
The results of the internal investigation are still two weeks away. We’re told the officer who shot Mongo will not be placed on leave.
You notice how when the police do something outrageous, we're always told that the victims "demand answers"?
I mean, if someone held you up and stole your wallet, and punched you in the nose would you you "demand answers"?
...Or would you want the guy arrested or punished?
So, the police get a report on a loose pit bull acting aggressively...officer called to scene...the pit rushes the officer and gets to within 2 yards of the officer.
And the officer did something outrageous?
That’s like saying the Boston marathon bombing victims were outrageously throwing their limbs and bone fragments at people.
Their balls shoot straight up in their throats when confronted by an attorney who knows his stuff, so at least I have that going for me.
Plus I’m a 34 year old WASP, so they always like me.
My experience as a prosecutor and schooling them (and CPS) on the Constitution has made me a person not to be messed with, at least locally.
That said, I don’t go picking fights. There are plenty enough clients bringing those to me as it is.
Most people have no clue about the regularity of this phenomenon, and many people are still convinced that the cops are their friends and exist to serve and protect them (besides, only liberals dare voice concerns about the actions of the police).
Imagine the initial shock you would feel if your best friend, who you’ve known for years, turned around and killed your dog/child/spouse/significant other out of the blue, without cause.
You’d be perfectly cognizant that a crime was committed, but you’d also feel a huge sense of betrayal.
That is, I think, in part what the victims of these crimes feel-—a tenet of their very worldview has been shaken (cops are the good guys, and should be trusted).
It's the owners and not the dogs themselves.
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