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grettlerj wrote:If that officer is so startled by that small dog that he shoots it because it runs up to him, he should be in another line of work. Luckily the owner of the dog didn't get too close to him either or he might be laying next to his dog.

And how many dog bites should a police officer be required to take in his line of work? What size dog should he have to allow to bite him? Should that be stated in an LEO’s job description?

http://www.hillcountrynews.com/news/art ... f887a.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; the city is suing the owner of a dog that bit an officer. I wonder if the officer could file suit against a dog’s owner that bit him/her also, or would the officer be limited to Workman’s Compensation?

speedsix wrote:

VoiceofReason wrote:

Beiruty wrote:I am more concerned why the Police officer has to draw on unarmed person who is not a threat or even aggressive or non-compliant. That would be an aggravated assault if done by a civilian. That officer has be sent to for long time re-training and long time office desk duty to cool down and learn to control his fear. He behaved like scared bat squirting out from a cave.

Was there a weapon involved in the initial report? If so I can understand the officer drawing his sidearm.

How would you know the subject was “unarmed” until you have searched him? I agree the officer probably overreacted but none of us were there and don’t know all of the details. It is easy to criticize when one is sitting safely in front of his/her keyboard and take all the time he/she wants to think about what he/she would do in a situation we don’t know all the facts about.

...those of us who HAVE spent several years on the streets usually consider what's in the subject's HANDS to determine whether or not to draw and cover them...more often it's handled as you posted earlier...then search him/her if/as the situation calls for it...the fact that the officer greatly overreacted is not in dispute, with the facts we are given here...where one is sitting when coming to these conclusions makes little difference to the conclusions drawn...Beiruty's concerns are valid and well supported by the supplied facts...the dashboard audio tells us a lot...

I HAVE spent time on the streets with a Sherriff’s Department. If I were dispatched to a domestic disturbance call and the caller reported a gun or knife involved, I would draw on someone that came around the corner of a house, approaching me. To do otherwise is betting your life that he/she does not have a small gun or large knife in their hand just out of site behind their leg, in their pocket, in the belt in the small of their back etc. After patting them down then we could talk. If he was more than 15 feet from me I would just put my hand on my gun and order him against a wall so I could pat him down.

I once took custody of a male subject from a DPS officer and transported him to the county jail so the DPS officer could answer another call. When I got him to the jail and told him to empty his pockets, he laid a large buck knife on the counter. I had assumed the DPS officer had searched him before handcuffing him. I had assumed the subject was unarmed so I didn’t search him myself before taking custody. I never made that mistake again.

My point is that none of us were there and we don’t know what the original report was or how close to the officer the subject or the dog was. The dashboard audio may tell a lot but without the video it may leave out a lot also. Earlier in this thread people were condemning the officer for going to the wrong address when they didn’t know he was dispatched to the wrong address.

nyj wrote:dashcam footage:
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/aust ... dogs-death" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Who has NEVER gone onto someone else's property who had dogs and not have them run up to you? Give me a break. I've been slobbered halfway to death from much bigger, intimidating dogs than a little healer.

I have been bitten twice, once by a German Sheppard. The owner didn’t didn’t see the dog bite me and she was telling me the dog wouldn’t bite. She didn’t believe me when I told her it had bitten me. The dog bit me on the front of my upper leg, left teeth marks and drew blood without tearing my pants.

Beiruty wrote:I am more concerned why the Police officer has to draw on unarmed person who is not a threat or even aggressive or non-compliant. That would be an aggravated assault if done by a civilian. That officer has be sent to for long time re-training and long time office desk duty to cool down and learn to control his fear. He behaved like scared bat squirting out from a cave.

Was there a weapon involved in the initial report? If so I can understand the officer drawing his sidearm.

How would you know the subject was “unarmed” until you have searched him? I agree the officer probably overreacted but none of us were there and don’t know all of the details. It is easy to criticize when one is sitting safely in front of his/her keyboard and take all the time he/she wants to think about what he/she would do in a situation we don’t know all the facts about.

thenick_ttu wrote:

gigag04 wrote:I've shot and killed one dog and pepper sprayed more than I can count while on the job. Not the highlight of my work, but I've seen enough dog bites to stop the threat of a dog first and ask questions later. If simple leash laws are followed by owners, this becomes a non-issue.

I shouldn't have to take a bite from a strangers dog before defending myself. That's just silly.

Also...Using a TASER on a dog...really? Have you deployed one before? It's a one shot deal and a much smaller target than a human torso. You can borrow mine and have a few tries under stress if you like. I'll go for my pistol...

1) Shoot first, "ask questions later" -- that's always a comforting policy for our local law enforcement to have, whom are supposed to protect us, not shoot first, "ask questions later."
2) Follow leash laws... expect leash laws weren't applicable in this situation because the dog was on his own property.
3) A stranger who is being held at gun point, on his own property, by a cop that wouldn't even let him restrain his dog.

it sounds like you might be the cop in question in this story? at the very least, it sounds like you're part of the problem of excessive police force when not required. I hope to God you're not a cop anywhere around North DFW

with all "due" respect

Have you ever ridden with a Police Officer? Some departments have “ride along” programs. If a department close to where you live has one, sign up, and ride along a few times. It might give you a different perspective.

http://www.hillcountrynews.com/news/art ... f887a.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is a lot we don’t know about this situation.

On the original domestic disturbance call, were there weapons reportedly involved?
How close to the officer was the subject when the officer pulled his gun?
Did the officer tell the subject to stop at least one time as the subject approached before drawing his gun?
How close to the officer was the dog when he shot it?

When I was with the Sherriff’s Dept, I had mental guidelines for most scenarios. I unsnapped and put my hand on my gun numerous times. I unholstered and held my gun down by my side a handful of times. I pointed my sidearm at a subject just three or four times.

Some of my mental guidelines were not to allow a subject within 10 feet of me until I knew the situation. I would unsnap and keep my hand on my gun, telling the subject to stop as he approached.

I would not allow a subject to put his hands in his pockets.

If a menacing dog was within 20 feet I would draw my sidearm and if the owner was present, tell them to control the animal.

These are just a few of my personal guidelines. Other officers guidelines may be different.

I feel sorry for the owner of the dog. I know what it is like to lose a beloved dog. But as I said there is a lot we don’t know about this situation and I will withhold condemning the officer. If the dog was within 15 feet, I might have fired too. I am sure most people know how quickly a dog can close that distance.

One last item, the officer should have verified the address. I carried a small recorder with me to make verbal notes such as the make model and LP of a car parked at a location if needed at a later time. I also recorded dispatches in case there was a question later as to whether I misunderstood an address or if it was read to me wrong.

I have had an amusing situation with a dog. My partner was driving and pulled over a suspected drunk driver in a residential neighborhood at night. He approached the driver and I stood at the passenger side rear of the car. A large dog came out from one of the houses barking and stopped about 30 feet from me continuing to bark. I unsnapped my gun and kept my hand on it.

Believe it or not I heard people sitting on the porch where the dog came from urging the dog on. I got tired of trying to watch my partner and the dog at the same time. I yelled at my partner, “Joe I’m going to shoot this dang dog”! He yelled back “go ahead and we’ll take those people in”. All of a sudden the people started calling the dog back and he went.

Turns out I was one of three officers that arrested a relative of those people about a month before. We arrested him for breaking and entering and attempted rape.

Extra note: 357 hollow points. Would probably made a mess.