Killing of family dog unfolds on videotape (Dog shooter gets desk duty)

tennessean.com ^ | 1/9/03 | LEON ALLIGOOD

[Rebelbase]

Three minutes and seven seconds tells the story of a dog named Patton.

The dog, which was shot at close range Jan. 1 by a Cookeville policeman during a felony traffic stop, belonged to the James Smoak family of Saluda, N.C. At the time, the Tennessee Highway Patrol suspected the Smoaks

[Rebelbase]

Internal investigations find that except for screwed up communications, all is well with the LEO's regarding the dog shooting.

Officer Hall, the LEO who shot the dog, has been reassigned to an administrative position pending the outcome of an independent investigation by a private out-of-state investigator.

[Rebelbase]

Your thread from yesterday.

[weikel]

Its been shown that the LEOs can't really police themselves. I think drawing and quartering an appropriate punishment for the dog shooter but then again I like dogs more than cops.

[Rebelbase]

Update ping.

[Dog]

I am all for supporting LEO's .......but this crossed the line....all the officers on the scene need to be FIRED and this family needs to sue that county and the State of Tenn. until they are bleed dry..

Imagine your family pet being shot in cold blood right before your eyes..

[who knows what evil?]

Tennessee's infamous "good 'ol boy" network will protect Officer Hall...he'll be back on the road in no time. Tourists, beware. Hall should be FIRED, along with that worthless police chief. If Hall is worried about being bit by a dog, he might want to check into a new line of work...I'm sure McDonald's is hiring.

[who knows what evil?]

A police chief in Gaithersburg, Md., will conduct an independent investigation.

Fox guarding the henhouse alert.

[freeper12]

>>I like dogs more than cops.

and they are smarter too...

[Larry Lucido]

The outcome of the internal "investigation" is not unexpected. Normally I don't root for trial lawyers but would make an exception here. A trial the only way to bring these facts to public scrutiny. I hope they get the best lawyer they can find.

Unfortunately, the state will probably settle to avoid further embarrassment.

[Skooz]

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Even so, the THP officers did not act inappropriately by making the felony stop, according to an internal investigation.

Next they will say that anyone who would question anything any LEO would do is desecrating the graves of the FDNY and NYPD heroes who died on September 11, 2001.

Anti-Terror Uber Alles.

[HELLRAISER II]

Somebody needs their @ss whooped for this blunder, the problem is who? The cops were doing mostly what they were suppose to do, I haven't seen the pictures or film in anyway so I can't say that from the cops point of view they weren't thieves who might have been dangerous as well as their dog being vicious. All I do know is that I would be pissed that me and my family were handcuffed and thrown to the ground for no reason as well as my dog being killed for no reason. Again I say somebody needs their @ss whooped, what a shame.

[Skooz]

If Hall is worried about being bit by a dog, he might want to check into a new line of work...I'm sure McDonald's is hiring.

Exactly. Is this the kind of pathetic mamma's boy, panty-waist wimp the state has hired to protect us from the bad guys?

[Rebelbase]

After watching the video, the LEO's have absolutely no regard for the dog whatsoever.

All that had to be done to avoid having an animal loose along side the interstate was for someone to close the car doors. A simple act of common sense that any person of reason would be able to deduce.

Would the THP and Cookeville police department be singing a different tune about their officer's actions had the dog bounded into traffic and caused a fatal traffic accident? I doubt it.

[Rebelbase]

The video is in the thread referenced at #2, above.

[FITZ]

Imagine your family pet being shot in cold blood right before your eyes..

This seems so uncalled for, the police need better training and to realize they are public servants.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yep, the police have completely excused themselves for everything they did. Why am I not assured?

[Lloyd227]

"...but then again I like dogs more than cops."

I'll second that!

[HELLRAISER II]

I think for a good numbers cops this philosphy of serving the Public is lost and to them they are there to play Johnny Bad @ss Law on their beat.

[Copernicus]

The sad truth is they were doing their jobs more or less flawlessly.

The sadder truth is unless or until we collectively realize certain jobs do not need to be done we will continue to have these type of incidents.

Many families with dogs drive to Tennessee for the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival.

Maybe we should all get bumperstickers: Officer, I'm a tourist traveling with my family to the Great Outdoors Festival. Please don't shoot my dog.

Best regards,