I knew a Sheriff like that once.
I lived way back in the mountains at the time, surrounded by the National Forest. A lost hunting dog came to my cabin and I took it in while I looked for the owner. One day, three young guys came to the cabin in a ratty old truck. She wouldn’t let them out of the truck.
I called the Sheriff and asked him if he knew the boys and if he knew anybody that had lost a dog and I describe the dog. He said yes, he knew about both and he would be right out. He showed up later with the owner of the hunting dog. The owner said it must have been meant for the dog to find me because she hated everybody. He said she and her ancestors were bred to hunt indians way back in time. He said she was half Bulldog and half Black & Tan hound. She was almost put down for attacking a man that was threatening him. She was his “hog dog” and had the scars to prove it.
Anyway, the Sheriff told me that if the boys came back and got out of the truck, to shoot them. He asked if I had a gun and I said that I had several. He said to kill them on the spot but do not let them get out of the truck and to the house. I asked, “don’t they have to be in the house for me to shoot them” and he said “no, kill them, call me, and somebody will come out to drag them in the house and fill out a report”.
Either way, they never came back but I sure did miss that dog.
Either that dog is very old, or someone's got some explaining to do.
> somebody will come out to drag them in the house and fill out a report <
Perhaps possible in some locations. But, in general, that’s not so good. A trained investigator who comes on the scene later will know exactly what happened. And if he’s in the mood to put you in a world of hurt, he can do exactly that.