Danville police shoot, kill growling miniature dachshund
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Danville officer shoots and kills 12 pound dog;...
A Danville Police Officer shoots and kills a 12 pound dog, and the owners don't understand why.
Killer, who died Monday night after being shot once, was described as “just a little house dog.“
DANVILLE -- Danville's police chief says one of his officers acted properly by shooting and killing an 11-year-old miniature dachshund that ran at him while growling.
Neighbors said Killer, who died Monday night after being shot once, was a sweet, mild-mannered dog.
"He just kind of walked up and down the neighborhood and didn't bother anybody," said Jenine Edmunds, who lives on the same cul-de-sac as Killer's owners, Tawaiin Harper and his family. "He was just a little house dog."
Police Chief Philip Broadfoot declined to name the officer who shot and killed the dog while serving two outstanding warrants to a neighbor.
As the officer returned to his car, "he was surprised by a growling dog running through the yard directly at him from the rear, leaving him with just seconds to consider his options," according to the a release from Broadfoot.
The options, according to the chief: running to the squad car, distracting the dog or using pepper spray, a baton or firearm.
Broadfoot said the dog lunged at the officer and attacked him.
"Shooting a dog which is actively presenting a threat to an officer is within the department's policy," according to the release.
Harper said he drove home from work to try to comfort his wife and two children after they called to say Killer had been shot to death by the officer.
The officer's supervisor, a lieutenant, "was very, very remorseful," Harper said. "He kept apologizing. And he said, 'I know apologizing can't bring the dog back, but I just don't know what to say.' "
Harper said friends and neighbors have asked if the family will get another dog.
"You can't replace Killer. He's one of a kind. I'm still trying to soak it in because the dog had been with us so long. He was a family member. They took a family member away."
-- Media General News Service
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dchristie,
It seems you are ignoring the facts as THEY ARE STATED IN THE STORY. Allow me to help you, I promise, I will type slowly as I doubt yo can read very fast.
1. You say “Actually, the article never really establishes the exact location of the incident.“
Well ACTUALLY it does. It says “Police Chief Philip Broadfoot declined to name the officer who shot and killed the dog while serving two outstanding warrants to a neighbor.
As the officer returned to his car, “he was surprised by a growling dog running through the yard directly at him from the rear, leaving him with just seconds to consider his options,“
See the story says the officer was serving warrants at a neighbors house, it ALSO says the dog came after him. Am I going slow enough for you?
2. You say “And anybody who would consider this dog a mortal threat (the only reason for a cop to legally discharge a firearm in a residential neighborhood)is a coward who shouldn’t be trusted to deliver the mail, much less carry a badge.“
Actually the cop need not be in fear of his life when it’s an animal. All he/she has to be worried about is their “well being”, the cop has no idea if the dog is a stray, if it’s got rabies, and really doesn’t have a whole lot of time to figure it out. The cop isn’t going to, nor is the cop required to ask the dog it’s intent. Had the owner had the dog under their control the cop would have had no reason to shoot it. Oh the owner, remember the owner? The owner that DIDN’T keep the dog under control? I love people like you, shift the blame to someone OTHER than the person that is actually at fault.
3. You say “And anybody who thinks that he acted appropriately and in accordance with his duties as a police officer is a fool who is more concerned with covering up for criminals with badges than they are with maintaining law, order and respect for those cops who really do deserve our support.“
Well I seriously doubt that there is ANY cop that you support. My guess is you have had MANY “run ins” with the police, and have come out on the losing end. Either that or someone close to you has. What REALLY shows through is that you have an agenda. Your agenda is to take every chance you get to TRY to discredit a cop. You attempt to use some really big words to cover up your feelings of inadequacy and lack of actual knowledge. It’s ok, I understand, I was young once too. Once again the bottom line is did the owner do his/her duty as a dog owner to protect and care for the dog. The answer is no. The owners allowed it to roam free AS STATED IN THE STORY, The dog attacked a cop and is dead. END OF STORY. I guess the dog won’t do it again now will he? I guess it’s just a dog gone shame!
“dchristie, if you can’t read or comprehend that’s your problem. I’m not making up anything. The dog wasn’t protecting his property, the cop wasn’t on the dogs property, the bottom line is if the family had controlled their dog they way they should have it would still be alive, it’s simple logic. You obviously have a beef with cops in general, it shines through in your comment. Those of us that have open minds can see the truth right in front of our faces.“
Thanks for demonstrating my point.
Clearly, you are the one with reading comprehension problems…or worse.
You’re hallucinating a narrative which exists only in your mind, not in the article copy.
This serves only one purpose: To create a false alibi in your mind for a rogue cop. He enjoys your support simply because he’s an authority figure, not because his conduct warrants support.
Your obsequious and unconditional palavering to the power of the state, whether it’s wielded responsibly or not, is what shines though here.
Let me try and help you with this:
Actually, the article never really establishes the exact location of the incident.
What the article does establish is that “Killer” was a diminutive neighborhood dog of around 10 lbs that never harmed or threatened anybody in any way whatsoever.
And anybody who would consider this dog a mortal threat (the only reason for a cop to legally discharge a firearm in a residential neighborhood)is a coward who shouldn’t be trusted to deliver the mail, much less carry a badge.
And anybody who thinks that he acted appropriately and in accordance with his duties as a police officer is a fool who is more concerned with covering up for criminals with badges than they are with maintaining law, order and respect for those cops who really do deserve our support.
Just because it’s legal to do something does not make it the right thing to do.
When the Cop shot the dog he was legally within his rights to do so, but he was a jerk for doing it. Beyond that he violated his oath to protect and serve when he did so, but violanting the public trust and creating a more dangous situation for citizens by discharging his firearm in a public place (Something anyone else would have been arrested and jailed for even if it had been a very large dog).
Personally I think this officers at the very least should be removed from any duty that allows him to carry a firearm for the violation of his oath.
Some of the people posting comments here are so brain-dead, it’s they who should be kept on a leash or tied up to a post somewhere.
Not surprisingly, it’s the “cops can do no wrong” nuts who create their own facts.
First of all, the dog wasn’t marauding around the neighborhood.
The dog was on his family’s property doing what dogs are expected to do.
A 10 lb dog growling or barking at interlopers is not a menace to anybody who’s not a craven coward.
It’s a common and normal feature of every residential neighborhood on the planet.
But apparently, the nit-wit with the badge and gun doensn’t even know that much.
Even his apologists back at Pork HQ admit he had other options besides opening fire on the little dog.
In fact, that dog wasn’t only private property. The dog was a member of somebody’s family.
And frankly - that dog was doing far more to protect the family than the thug with the badge and gun.
The trigger happy cop has a sworn duty to “protect and serve” all members of the family. That includes the dog.
Clearly, the incompetent swine was the one marauding around the neighborhood posing a threat to the community.. not the dog.
He needs to learn respect for the private property and the families who pay his salary.
In the meantime, nobody is safe until the idiot is fired and finds a job he’s better suited for - like flipping burgers.
While it is quite sad to hear about any dog having to be shot, this should serve as a tough lesson for those that own little dogs. It is clear that this cop more then likely could have gotten away without injury, however he still had a right to shoot the dog. The dog, should NOT have been allowed to roam the neighborhood. What if there was a small child outside that this dog decided to attack. If it were my 90lb black dog charging the cop, I’m sure she would have been shot and you people would be taking the side of the cop. (even though my Lab more then likely would be running to get attention, not attack).
The point is, whether you own a large mastiff, or a tiny hotdog, you need to be responsible and stop blaming everyone else when something happens to your animal. Keep them in the house or in the yard and keep them supervised.
Guess the cop didn’t have to much fight in him .
It’s not the size of the dog in the fight,
It’s the size of the fight in the dog.
A mini dachshund ,moving so fast ,about to take out the top of his shoes .A punk cop ,run ,jump,kick ,if it had been a cocker spaniel he would have called out S.W.A.T .
Posted by ( fatz9978 ) on June 11, 2009 at 7:35 am
Why would a dog be named “killer” if it wasn’t dangerous? I feel for the officer because he had to take a life but I would have done the same.
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Uhhhh, are you really that ignorant? Have you never heard of SARCASM???? I mean come on how scary and threatening can an 11 lb dog really be. Give me a freaking break. The officer was a trigger happy coward that used his gun to make him feel big and important. He should lose his job and go back to flipping burgers at McDonalds where they don’t allow those terrifying 12 lb dogs.
I own two miniature dachshunds, a male and a female. They are my constant companions and I hope the owner of the mini that this brave police officer shot and killed sue him and the city for every last dime they have. I said “brave”. Sorry. I meant to say “coward”.
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