Danville police chief defends fatal shooting of dog by officer
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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.“
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| Danville Police Chief Phillip Broadfoot addresses the media during a press conference regarding the shooting of a miniature dachshund named Killer on Monday. (Register & Bee/Traci White) |
DANVILLE -- Media General News Service
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."
Killer greeted Harper every time he came home. Whenever a car pulled into the cul-de-sac, Killer barked to let everyone know that someone new was there.
"He was the security guard around here," Harper said.
Police Chief Philip Broadfoot declined to name the officer who shot 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 a news 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 whether 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."
Reader Reactions
He can defend himself all he wants. “McNasty,“ I agree that the requirements for a Danville policeman seem…less than tough in light of this incident. I have a dachshund and would be happy to participate in any kind of demonstration. Because even though no dachshund should be SHOT, this goes even beyond that to horrible judgment. It’s terrifying that there are cops like this out there “defending” us.
I was thinking about this story last night and my neighbor came walking by my porch with a miniature doberman who immediately growled and tugged at the leash like he wanted to eat me. Leash or no leash, when my immediate reaction was to start laughing at his big dumb ears and tiny little body, I realized that there’s no excuse for what this officer did. There is absolutely no way this dog could have hurt this officer and I can think of about ten ways the officer could have repelled the pup without using lethal force. The fact that he was able to draw and accurately shoot a fatal shot at a dog that small means the dog couldnt have been charging too hard.
He was just teaching people a lesson about dog maintainence.
This thread can be found at the following URL:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/article/DOGGAT11_20090611-071201/273228/
“dchristie,
Thanks for finally showing yourself. It ALWAYS cracks me up when some
liberal nut job like you is beat and knows it. The first thing they ALWAYS
resort to is name calling and insults. I am laughing at you right now with
5 co-workers. You’ve made our break time here at work great.“
Here we have another deluded right-wing psychopath using this sad story to wave his psychotic political agenda in our faces like the cheesy little flag made in Mexico tied to his car antenna.
The good news is that Nazi Loving Rodents shoot their big mouths off and expose themselves at any opportunity.
That’s why mikeski worships trigger Happy cops who are such craven cowards that they feel threatened by a 10 lb dog.
Mikeski himself is the same kind of craven yellow filth and so, therefore, finds courage in seeing those who are defenseless getting bullied by goons and thugs with tanks, planes, badges and whatever else represents power and authority to him.
I hope you and some of the other degenerate losers at your boot licking little job are subscribed to this thread, mikeski.
Now, you better get back to sucking the boss off before he finds out how you’re using the resources of his business.
Ta..ta.. .. For now.
oh my god,,a weiner dog I have 2 now and always had weiners,,I can not believe that COP felt treatened by a 10lb weiner dog what does he do when faced with a criminal cry wolf,,,,,unbelievable story shoot him and put him out of our misery!!!!!!
This is absurd. That police officer should be reassigned to a position where he does not have access to a firearm.
This shows an incredible lack of good judgment. Just what you want in a cop. Get a gun out of that moron’s hands immediately.
He should also be embarrassed. Is the big bad cop afraid of a MINIATURE dachshund? Wow, what a loser.
I’d like to know the Danville Police Department’s criteria for hiring police officers. I assume only a pulse is required?
To the family, my heart goes out to you. I can’t imagine one of my doxies bein murdered by those sworn to protect and serve.
I hope the family pursues this one as fast as they can. It just might save another dog that’s no taller than your calf from the local police department.
I have a 12 year old mini dachshund, and would be glad to participate if someone is planning a demonstration.
Just as I was reading a story about a kitten being baked to death, I hear about this. My family has an 11-year-old miniture dachshund as well. If the officers acted “appropriately,“ I’d like to see what policy or procedure he acted “appropriately” towards. The Code of Conduct for Morons? Whatever procedure is written down about defending oneself from a 10-lb. dog needs to be changed. Name the time and place and I’ll be there with my picket sign and Fritz (My dachshund, who’s OH NO, watch out…20 lbs.!) This deserves to be covered by any and all shows, such as Bill Maher (and believe me, he’ll blow a bigger hole in the officer). Be sure this story will be forwarded infinitely throughout the internet. I encourage others to participate.
Officer Murrill McLean-you are a disgrace. I would encourage dachshund owners everywhere across Virginia to contact the Danville Police Department and make their feelings known. Perhaps a protest march with a couple of hundred miniature dachshunds outside the Police Department Headquarters would bring home just how ridiculous the actions of this officer were and motivate the City to terminate his employment immediately. Otherwise, the next time we see this Officer’s name in the news, he could be using similar bad judgment on an unarmed citizen.
Was this little weiner dog armed with a rifle or something?
How can ANYONE, let alone a law enforcement officer, justify shooting an 11 year old MINIATURE Dachshund (probably weighing about ten pounds) with a gun?
“...the officer was surprised by a growling dog running through the yard at him” and shot the tiny dog to death. To hear that is disturbing enough. Even scarier is the Danville police chief stating that “one of his officers acted properly”!?!
According to the neighbors, this dog was “a sweet, mild-mannered house dog”. And “whenever a car pulled into the cul-de-sac, the dog barked to let everyone know that someone new was there.“
Most pet dogs do that, and to many of us, they are a member of the family. This could have happened to my dog, or your dog.
I only hope that there will be enough public outrage to take the gun away from such trigger happy police officer with extremely poor judgement.
as the owner of a mini dachsund i will say that this breed is VERY territorial and will react to a threat aggressivly—-its in the bloodline .However due to the size of this dog,this is a outrage-whats next,a child??? This man need to be locked up—-better yet,give me 5 minutes with him and I’ll stuff that gun right up his you know that——Officer,you are a idiot—-if you can read and have any guts at all,respond to this and i’ll make the trip to Danville,,,,,,,,
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