Cop took just 3 seconds to shoot dog

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Thursday, January 9, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

The Tennessee policeman who shot and killed a family's dog during a terrorizing traffic stop took just three seconds to slay the animal after it jumped out its owners' car, reports the Cookeville Herald-Citizen.

Law-enforcement authorities released a videotape of the incident yesterday, which shows the three-second time frame on the tape's counter.

The Cookeville police officer who shot the dog, Eric Hall, has since been reassigned to administrative duties while the incident is probed.

As WorldNetDaily reported, the Smoak family was returning to their home in North Carolina on New Year's Day when three police cars swarmed their vehicle on Interstate 40 in what appeared to be a traffic stop.

The Smoaks appear on CNN

A Tennessee Highway Patrol officer broadcast orders over a bullhorn for driver James Smoak to toss the keys out of the car window, get out with his hands up and walk backwards to the rear of the car. Smoak obeyed and was subsequently ordered onto his knees and handcuffed at gunpoint. Officers similarly handcuffed his wife, Pamela, and their 17-year-old son with their guns drawn.

As the troopers were putting the family members inside the patrol car, one of the Smoak family dogs, a boxer-bulldog mix named Patton, came out of the car and headed toward one of the Cookeville officers who were assisting the THP troopers.

"That officer had a flashlight on his shotgun, and the dog was going toward that light, and the officer shot him, just blew his head off," Pamela Smoak told the Herald-Citizen. "We had begged them to shut the car doors so our dogs wouldn't get out, [but] they didn't do that."

The Smoaks had been pulled over by mistake after someone reported seeing the car getting on the highway with cash flying out from behind the vehicle. James Smoak, it turns out, had mistakenly left his wallet on the roof of the car when he stopped to get gas. Someone within the THP reportedly thought a robbery had occurred, though it turns out none had.

Hall claimed he was acting in self-defense.

"I yelled at the dog to get back, but it attempted to circle me to attack, so I felt that I had no option but to protect myself," the officer wrote in a police report.

Police Chief Bob Terry told the Herald-Citizen, "We are aware there is a lot of criticism out there over this incident, and we want to take [Hall] off the road and let him perform other duties while we get this all resolved." Terry stressed that Hall was not being punished for killing the dog.

The Herald-Citizen reports that "to an average viewer, the scene recorded on the video may not demonstrate the aggressiveness or the threat the officer said he experienced as the dog came toward him."

Terry said he will have two unrelated police agencies perform independent reviews of the incident.

"We once again extend our deepest concerns to the Smoak family for their loss," Terry said. "We know this was a terrible experience for them, and we truly wish that we could undo the events that occurred on the night of Jan. 1."

The Smoaks recently told their story on CNN's "Connie Chung Tonight."

Speaking of Patton, son Brandon Smoak told Chung, "He's the gentlest dog that I've ever been around. He's like Scooby Doo. He wasn't mean at all."

[rolling_stone]

tip insufficient for probable cause for felony stop...

http://www.co.alameda.ca.us/da/pov/Saldana.pdf

numerous other citations given...

I still want to know why the Cookeville PD had at least two of their in car videos not activated, is that against their policy or is that their policy?

[patriciaruth]

You want police officers to decide independently which laws to enforce and which not based on their political beliefs?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...I always give policemen the benefit of the doubt in close calls...

Fair enough. But there was no close call involved in this incident.

Shooting the dog is part of the training for Cookeville officers, apparently; my guess, so as to intimidate and traumatise the owner/suspect.

[cho26]

The cop is such an IDIOT, this time is the dog, is the next time gonna be an innocent person. Anyone who saw the video knows that the dog is small, wagging his tail, and looks very friendly. If the cop felt threatened by THAT, then he shouldn't be a police officer. So is he gonna be scared by a big cat too? To fire this guy is letting him get off too easily. If the victim family files suit, the government (taxpayers, us!!) will have to pay for his cruel act and lack of judgement. Maybe all cops need to carry some sort of "malpractice" or "liability" insurance paid by their own expense, so taxpayers couldn't have to cover for their mistakes.

btw, for those people who thought the dog in the video is threatening to the police officer, couldn't u tell how small and friendly the dog was?! or are you just as stupid as that cop who killed the dog.

[bobfromtn]

Johnny7

I wholeheartedly agree about the revenue angle.
I drive a lot for business. I am always seeing horribly reckless drivers but they never seem to get stopped. Only the poor soul that was doing 60 in the 55 zone. Can you say "shooting fish in a barrell"

I too, have lost the respect I once had.

I happen to reside here in Cookeville and it is truly a wonderful place to live. I believe this horrible tragedy is the result of terrible miscommunication between departments and officers with adrenalin on high.

I have seen video clips from some of the cop shows and on animal precinct showing law officers in much more direct danger and they have not taken such extreme measures.

The officer that did this needs to be in another line of work.

[and_your_saying_this_because]

You know it upsets me that 95% of the ppl on here hate cops in some way, for giving them a speeding ticket or shotting that dog.
Yes, I feel sorry for the family, but a lot of you didn't see the video to well. When the owner of the dog told the officers that he had a dog/s in the car, didn't anyone see the officer standing right there by the door? So, why is everyone saying that the officer that shot the dog, is also to blame for leaving the car door open. Can anyone see where he is standing? He is not by the families car, he is standing in front of one of the police units covering the other officers that were taking the family into custody. That is his job. When that dog came out of the car, yes, it appeard to be wagging it's tail, but when a dog runs that has a tail, don't they wag it too? Mine have.
I have seen my dog attack another dog to protect me. When my dog saw this, she too made that large half circle towards the other dog, tail in air, and jumped on the other dogs back and attacked it. No, she never barked once till she started to attack. Many vet bills later, I'm sorry to say, but I no longer have that dog. She too was a mixed mut of bullmastive, rott.,chow and bulldog. She was about the same size of the dog that was shot.
Now, let me ask this. Being that everyone is hating that cop for killing that dog, what would you do? You see this dog come running at you, avoiding the other officers that were standing there, what would you do? I'm assuming that the dog weighed anywhere from 40-50lbs.(that's from looking at the video) Would you reach down and try to keep the dog away with your hands? I think not! If you were that officer with a shot gun in hand and was trying to cover your fellow officers and a dog of unknown attitude came running towards you, I think that you too would take the same action as the officer did.
Now, here is this. The man, said," I have a dog/s in the car" Do you think that he was stating this cause he knew that his dogs might attack to try and save his family? Yes, I would think so, but also, think of this. He didn't want his dogs hit on the road or to run away either.
This officer was only doing his job. He was trained in school, that the officer goes home at the end of the shift.
Now for the people that hate the system, let's say that you are being held at gun point by an ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend. The officers come to where you are and try to talk the person down that has you at gun point. No matter what the officers are saying, the gun person, is gonna shoot YOU. One of the officers take aim and shoot the person that is holding you at gun point and kills them. Would you greatful that the officer just saved your life even though, you hate all that they stand for? Or would you all of a sudden have faith in the system again?
Here are the last questions. Do all of people that hate the system have jobs? Do you pay taxes? If so, you are paying these law enforcement officers that you don't have any faith in.
I suggest that all of you take time out and think about this again. That officer was protecting HIS life. He probally has a wife and kids at home and wanted to go home to them. None of us where there that night to see this in person, so who are all of us to judge.

[bobfromtn]

Eno,

I agree with everything you say except about Cookeville being "Podunk".
Cookeville is a great place and this incident is the result of a few overzealous cops.

[bobfromtn]

To quote the infamous R.D. Mercer...
"bull butter"
Way too much force was used during this whole fiasco.
I hear what you are saying but, to the best of my knowledge, there was no definitive felony connection to the Smoaks. Could the officers not see these large dogs as they were manhandling these poor folks out of the car?!
If so, why would they not shut the door? If all human occupants were currently removed from the vehicle then shutting the door would have been the perfect solution to protecting anyone there from what the dogs "might do"

We don't hate cops. I want to help the cops catch the REAL bad guys. I hate the BAD GUYS. I hate scum. I hate people that want to take what I worked hard for. But, like another post stated, most of the time when I attempt to help law enforcement I end up feeling like I have just been told, "go away sonny, we know what we're doing. You couldn't possibly know anything we don't already know."

[johnny7]

Nobody on this thread hates cops newbie... they hate inept LE.

Why was the family cuffed and on their knees?

I hope you have an experience with a cop in a sucky mood... you'll lose your bladder.

[bobfromtn]

Dan,

Man... have a little sympathy.

I've seen numerous video clips of drug crazed, gun wielding thugs being "handled" by law enforcement and none of them took a multi-pellet blast to the head. (although some of them may have truly deserved it)

[Ken H]

On what basis are you claiming the police thought they were after a possible drug dealer?

I'd really appreciate it if you would back up that statement.

[johnny7]

We don't hate cops. I want to help the cops catch the REAL bad guys.

Ain't it the truth! Two adults, a teen, two dogs in a station-wagon... real scarey perps! HA!

I'm not a big lawsuit fan but these people should get a real good lawyer.

Money doesn't ease the pain but it pays the bills!

I knew a cop who bragged about beating the sh_t out of drunks.

He would insult them until they swung at him.

Then he'd pound them down into hamburger... class act.

[and_your_saying_this_because]

Well I hope that I'll never have a bad experience with the law. But, living in a small town and knowing just about every officer on the force for county and city that hopefully will not happen to me. (knocking on some wood)
My mother did get into trouble with the law about 5yrs ago and she did loose her bladder. She was pulled over and put into jail for 90days on her first DUI offence. The judge that put her there for that long was harder on her then what other judge's would have done. But, due to his daughter being killed by a drunk driver he tried DUI's harder then the rest. I felt that it was wrong for what he did, but never lost my faith in the system.
Now, why the family was on there knees and if cuffs...I'll tell yah if you want me too. It was a felony stop. They didn't show them all getting out of the car one by one and then laying on the ground either. But that's what happens during a possible felony stop. These ppl were thought to have robbed a place. So, that's why they did that.
LOL, sorry for being a newbie, you were once one too. :)

[johnny7]

Whaaa? DUI, first offense, 90 days?

Who was she, Ma Barker?

I don't buy it. What country do you live in?

If they pull you over, they don't know you. You are just meat... a source of revenue.

Once you're in the system, they like to keep you there.

[not a kook]

Bob, from what I've seen about corruption in your little burg, you need an entire new police force and city attorney. Heck, your boys have even apparently tried to hack into websites that have the audacity to collate info and blow the whistle.

Nothing is worse than being on the short end of the power stick while living on a feudal manor - which Cookeville appears to be.

[eno_]

I'm sure Cookville is charming. I meant no slam against the town. But every small-town cop either wants to make chief in his own town, or go to work for a bigger PD. Eric "Pet Terminator" Hall's career is unlikely to go anywhere above his current position. I would not be suprised to find him guarding an RV storage lot in a few years.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

And if the guy had smashed the dog in the nose as you recommend, the cop-hating sensation mongers would be playing that tape, too, as evidence of police brutality.

True enough. But he wouldn't be sitting behind a desk after being taken off active duty.

But the code is "never let them see you sweat." It's part of maintaining control in a frightening profession.

Also true. Which is why I know I could never do the job. I have a very simple nature. When I screw up (praise the Lord it's not often) I say so and don't hide it and do the best I can to rectify it. It has allowed me to acquit myself quite well in my professional life. But then, my screw ups only result in data loss...not death.

[motexva]

I thought the stop was handled pretty well considering it was a felony stop for suspected robbery.

Other than the fact there was no reason to think there had been a robbery . . .

[crile007]

Here's the email address for the trigger happy moron himself, Eric Hall: ehall@cookeville-tn.org. And here's one for his boss: rterry@cookeville-tn.org.

[delacoert]

I have waited until I could find more details before I gave-in to anger and outrage at the evident injustice over what happened to the Smoaks. The Smoak's story is compelling. The police video provokes an emotional response in me to want to stand with the Smoaks and rage at the police. The accompanying details of the story, however, lead me to different conclusions (than I read here) regarding Officer Eric Hall's conduct.

Before you just flame me into oblivion for what I'm about to say, take a look at the recent stories in the coverage at NewsChannel5.Com - Nashville, Tennessee. In particular, read the story about THP's Role In the Dog Shooting, and watch the video that accompanies the interview of Cookville Police Officer, Eric Hall.

I am always reluctant to completely buy-in to the conclusion that nation TV media herds me toward... that the single-perspective-with-blinders-on websites "enlighten" me about... that the chip-on-the-shoulder forum-poster mobs bludgeon me into silence over...

I think the consensus on this forum is way off base.

Starting with the incompetant eye-witness report, the real breakdown occurred with the THP dispatcher. Officer Eric Hall should be judged from the context of the information he was given. The whole JBT, police terrorism angle is foolish nonsense at best, and way too much blame is being directed toward the Cookeville Police Department.

Flame away, but I have no family in any way connected with law enforment and I'm not a FReeper, however, I do think of police as human-beings who make mistakes.