Police kill dog while stopping at wrong house on alarm call

Milwaukee Sentinel Journal ^ | April 30, 2004 | REID J. EPSTEIN

[decimon]

Muskego - Police officers responding to a burglar alarm at the wrong house shot and killed a 100-pound family dog that bounded toward them, the dog's owner said Friday. Muskego

At his mother's home Tuesday afternoon, Jacob Davida was working on his computer when he heard a knock at the front door.

With Bongo, the family's Mastiff, St. Bernard and German shepherd mix at his side, Davida opened the door to find police officers with guns drawn.

As usual, Bongo, 9, was without a leash because he didn't run off and never harmed anyone, Davida said. Bongo, with golden fur and a block-shaped head, was best friend to Davida and his four siblings. But on this day, the dog's inquisitive nature marked his downfall.

"My dog ran up from behind me toward the cop because he's a curious dog," said Davida, 24, of Madison. "I was screaming at the top of my lungs for them to stop shooting, for them to stop."

But his screams went for naught. The dog's days of walks in the park and canoe trips ended with a shot through his neck, Davida said.

"The cop just started shooting," he said. "The first bullet hit the ground close to me. The second shot hit the driveway. Then he shot and killed my dog right in front of me."

After shooting Bongo, Davida said, police officers told him that they were at his house to investigate a burglar alarm. The house, west of Big Muskego Lake, has no such alarm.

"They put that over the radio, and it came back that they had the wrong address," Davida said. "It turned out they were at the wrong place. Most of the cops left at that point to check out the actual burglary."

Muskego police Sgt. David Constantineau confirmed Friday that officers shot a dog Tuesday afternoon but said he would not release any details.

"It's under investigation," he said.

Davida finally went back to his computer programming job in Madison on Friday, but said the horror of watching his dog's death left him stricken.

"Retelling the story, I kind of shake," Davida said. "I had to break the news to each of my family members. I can't get the scene out of my head. It just plays over and over."

Bongo is to be buried on a farm in Fall River in Columbia County owned by Davida's sister and her husband.

As it turned out, the alarm came from the next-door neighbor's house. The neighbor, Robert Anderson, said nothing was taken, but the back and garage doors were left open.

To make matters worse, Davida watched the would-be burglar escape but, terrified after seeing his dog shot, didn't say anything to police.

"I saw the guy leave while the cops were interrogating me," he said. "I just assumed it was another police officer."

[decimon]

Police these days are dumber than a bag of rocks!

I've said no such thing.

Hope you never have to rely on them!

At age 58, I've not yet had to reply on them. If I did have to rely on them then I'd expect them to do their job just like everyone else I pay.

[zoyd]

These cops must have been from Tennessee.

I was wondering when THAT dog shooting would be brought up... sad, sad stories.

[CommerceComet]

You claim that my responses are "incoherent babble" to which you will not respond. Next time, I trust that you will be true to your word.

I don't respond to people with bad attitudes.

So I guess that we don't have anything to say to one another. This will work out well.

[Trinity_Tx]

"These "cops shoot dog" stories come out several times each year."

Exactly... which, combined with the all-too familiar story, is why we are giving the benefit of the doubt to the dog rather than the cop. I just ran a very quick search - here are a few recent highlights:

Police shoot dog, then cite owner for leash violation A COCKER SPANIEL

A few snips:

MILWAUKEE — A woman who had just talked a friend out of suicide had her pet cocker spaniel shot to death by a police officer called to her house.

Then the officer handed Valerie Mueller a $120 citation for having her dog, Sprite, outside without a leash.

“I told them, ‘The dog is harmless, don’t hurt the dog,’” said Dave Williams, another friend of Mueller who witnessed the shooting. “Three seconds later, they shot the dog.”

Police Chief Arthur Jones said his department is investigating to see whether the officer was in enough danger to warrant the actions.

(My comment: Any cop who fears for his life and needs *deadly force* to protect himself from a Cocker Spaniel is a disgrace to the uniform. And those who act like it needs "investigating" is showing more interest in CYA than justice. This is the attitude that people see so often and that makes us so angry.)

Friday, July 11, 2003 12:44 PM CDT
Sheriff to revise policy after deputies shoot dog

Saline County sheriff's deputies, responding to a call last week, determined the animal to be "vicious" and "threatening" and shot and killed the 14-month-old bloodhound.

At the time the incident occurred, Luke was tied to a tree in a neighbor's yard.

(Pet Dog was tied at home, he came untied, went to neighbor's, who tied him, not knowing who he was... called for someone to get him, police show up, *say* they tried to call the humane society, but no one could come get him (no such call shows up on HS caller id)... so the cops decide the dog is "vicious" and "threatening" and shoot him on the spot.

Video: As family shrieks, police kill dog

You have to read the whole story to see just how horrible it was. False, egregious arrest, and killing the family pet. On video.

Finally, (One could spend hours citing more stories like these) Woman Dies Weeks After Cop Shoots Guide Dog
Here on FR.

So while I'm sure there are cases where it is justified, there are far too many that are not. Some cops need to stop being so determined to deny their own weaknesses, and spend more time fixing what is broken.

[sinkspur]

My two boys are cops, and dog lovers.

They say any cop that can't deal with a dog, and has to shoot it, doesn't belong out on the streets. They're a menace to humans as well as dogs.

[Don Joe]

So I guess that we don't have anything to say to one another. This will work out well.

163 posted on 05/03/2004 8:29:36 PM EDT by CommerceComet

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 158 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

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To: feinswinesuksass; cinFLA; Don Joe;

LMAO!

You couldn't even hold your tongue for ten minutes before breaking your word!

[CommerceComet]

So I guess that we don't have anything to say to one another. This will work out well.

[HairOfTheDog]

I find myself very conflicted. My support and high regard for law enforcement requires that we require better of them. I see a lot of jumpy cops on COPS. Jumping around shouting with their fingers on semi-autos during traffic stops and it makes me crazy.

Dogs who would never bite will run out and bark when a stranger approaches. It is their nature.Especially if that stranger is approaching in the aggressive posture that is a big part of a cop's authority. That is in their nature. And we have dogs that are loose when home. This is our nature.

The poster above who said cops NEED to know how to read dogs is right. The police learn to read, interpret and de-escalate people... they need to learn to read, interpret and de-escalate dogs as a very common part of the environment they work in. An environment where the dog is very seldom the reason they are needed there, but rather is a much loved member of the family they are sworn to protect. They can learn to tell the difference. And yes... they might get bitten by a cocker spaniel or two. I'll pay to fix that.

[xrp]

People that let their dogs attack visitors at the door are either low class or drug dealers or both.

Ah, here we go again, the prejudiced cinFLA is once again defending unneccesary LETHAL force by the jack booted thugs. Once again, you try to inject drugs into the thread SOMEHOW.

If the cops had 'accidently' laid waste to the entire family living within the house, would you still be defending the cops so blindly?

[Don Joe]

Oops, mea culpa, you didn't post that second reply.

(Stunning a concept as it may be, I own up to my mistakes when I make them.)

[xrp]

Cinny has a clear history of supporting jack booted thug tactics by law enforcement officials.

[sinkspur]

Oh, and some police officers are just itching to fire their guns.

Drawing down on a dog is easy to do, killing it is even easier, and they hide behind "well, it was an aggressive dog."

My youngest pulls his nightstick when confronted with a dog, and will bop it in the head if it comes towards him.

Usually gets the dog's attention.

[Trinity_Tx]

"They say any cop that can't deal with a dog, and has to shoot it, doesn't belong out on the streets. They're a menace to humans as well as dogs."

Amen. That sums it up perfectly. : )

[Don Joe]

I find myself very conflicted. My support and high regard for law enforcement requires that we require better of them. I see a lot of jumpy cops on COPS. Jumping around shouting with their fingers on semi-autos during traffic stops and it makes me crazy.

There was a well-publicized incident a few short years ago, in which a couple of upstanding kids were wrongly pulled over after a crime was committed in the area. The car was surrounded, and the kid in the passenger seat was ordered not to move, and then ordered to exit the vehicle. When he tried to comply with the second order, he was instantly shot by the cop aiming the M16 at him -- because he violated the first order.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

[Trinity_Tx]

Exactly! Between the nightstick and mace, there should be no dog killings that aren't *obviously* warranted...

[HairOfTheDog]

I have seen a lot of complex and confusing instructions shouted to those guys...

HANDS OVER YOUR HEAD AND BACK UP NOW GET ON THE GROUND! - HEY I SAID HANDS UP! OVER YOUR HEAD! OVER YOUR HEAD! GET ON THE GROUND! (you can't lay down on the ground without putting your hands down) People often stand there completely confused, trying their best not to get shot at or clubbed, and I can tell the difference between a confused person and a resistant one. Can they?

I have good friends who are cops, and I have also been pulled over many times (I drive too fast) by cops that were professional in every way. Cordial, even when I declared my gun (CCW holder). But I live in a small town, I am white, I am a woman... and I am not in the city at night. I think that makes all the difference, and I wish it didn't.

[Trinity_Tx]

Thank you, HotD : )

I'm right there with you.

I was brought up to respect law enforcement, and I always have, til the last few years in which I have seen some display far too much CYA attitudes in response to behavior that should earn public condemnation by other cops themselves.

I still treat them respect, and I assume *most* are good people, doing a tough job honorably and well, for which I'm very grateful.

But I agree with you... They need to *all* educate themselves about natural animal behavior, reading their body language, determining actual threats, deescalating them, and using *appropriate* force.

There is no excuse for not doing so, or making excuses for those who fail. What is upsetting is that it suggests that they don't consider it important enough.

That's just wrong.

[tpaine]

Ah, here we go again, the prejudiced cinFLA is once again defending unnecessary LETHAL force by the jack booted thugs. Once again, you try to inject drugs into the thread SOMEHOW.

Bozo him.. -- Don't respond directly to his clownish taunts.
Show him the disrespect he deserves by refusing to get involved in his 'game'.

[Iris7]

Under Wisconsin law killing a dog in what you believe is self defense is legal in all circumstances for anyone. Legally it is the same as being attacked by a wild animal.

Some police officers shoot dogs too casually, of course, but in general this is considered a sign of unfitness for the work.

I live in the country, there is no leash law in this township, and some people run their dogs. Myself, I always keep dogs on a leash for the protection of the dog.

About twenty years ago in this neighborhood (before I moved in) there two dalmations allowed to run loose. The people were afraid of them, said they were aggressive. The dogs ran loose twice, and never did so again. Perhaps the owner decided to keep them restrained. Perhaps not.

[ought-six]

"These a-holes are not the norm, but their numbers seem to be growing."

Unfortunately true. By the way: What did your husband do to piss off these JBTs in the first place?

[ought-six]

"I disagree...the police were at fault or negligent and they aren't as immune as they would have you think. If they have caused pain and suffering (including emotional suffering, they can be sued."

Anyone can be sued for anything: The question is, will the action survive summary judgment? I handle law suits against police departments and their officers on a daily basis, from the defense side. The only way this dog owner would have a good shot at getting something more than the value of the dog -- and that's iffy, at this point -- is if he can show that he was directly threatened by the discharge of the weapon, in which case he can bring a negligence claim against the officer himself, as well as against the department for failure to properly train. But, in order to prevail, the dog owner must show he suffered compensable damages; not knowing all the facts, I can;t say at this point whether he has an actionable claim in that regard. He may also consider a federal claim against the officer for civil rights violations, but that is a tough row to hoe, as the burden of proof is much greater. Again, the facts are too sketchy at this point to be able to opine more than a half-assed guess as to whether or not he has much of a chance to prevail on any action he may consider bringing.