APD Shot and killed buddy's dog

[CEOofEVIL]

I've learned this over the years:

Simple mistakes have major consequences.

In my mind, making sure one is at the proper address -whether you are delivering a pizza, turning off utilities, or also responding to an emergency as an EMT, Firefighter or Police Officer - is a basic requirement to ensure that your job is properly completed. Granted, those last three examples are of dire importance as compared to a pizza delivery driver. Go out on a limb with me here for just second: I recently had a close call with a gas leak/carbon monoxide issue in my home. Had I called the emergency services and requested assistance and they showed up at my neighbors home due to an address error (take your pick as to why: computer glitch, misread the number, etc.) and wasted time finding out that they were at the wrong location while I was still in danger, would it be considered a huge issue? I certainly hope it would!

First and foremost, this is what sticks in my head. First responders need to make absolutely sure they have the proper location, regardless of what kind of call they are responding to. A simple mistake can cost lives. I'm kind of shocked that no one seems to see this as a issue in this particular instance. Yes, the Officer has the right to protect himself, and yes, the homeowner has rights for his property and himself - but isn't part of the underlying issue that he had the WRONG address? If he'd shown up at the proper location this incident would have likely not occurred. As some have mentioned this really is a Lose/lose situation. I certainly hope that the Officer (if HE was responsible for the mistake) or other responsible party learns a big lesson from this, or at the very least felt that major "Ooops" feeling down in his/their gut when all was said and done. Why do I say this? Without acknowledging that you've made a mistake, it's nigh impossible to correct the issue or set of issues that lead the mistake being made in the first place, and thus leaving the future much more likely open for further mistakes. Considering that emergency professions are quite important due to their nature, such mistakes should not be permissible.

I know, I know, we don't have all the facts, etc. but, and I'm going out on a tangent here, I think all too often simple mistakes that shouldn't have occurred get simply swept away or under the rug for unjustified reasons. So folks, don't take this as a bash on the Officer, or the dispatcher, APD, or whomever might end up being responsible here. I'm simply communicating that I feel we should ensure that crucial mistakes are kept at a minimum especially in regard to Governmental, and Emergency Service entities. When they do happen (as the inevitably will), the need to be handled in the most constructive fashion to ensure that they do not happen again.

Definitely interested to see where this goes.

EDIT: It appears that the TV news story is saying that the Neighbors may have given the wrong address in the call to police - if this is the case, how could the officer have even known it was the wrong house without first getting further information from the homeowner? Still a lose/lose.

[G.A. Heath]

I still want to hear the officers side of things and learn why he felt that he had to draw on the OP's friend, who we assume was unarmed and non-aggressive. This will determine what "side" I come down on. It doesn't seem reasonanble to draw your weapon and point it at the first person you see when responding to a Domestic Disturbance. Now if the original caller had reported that a weapon was involved in the Domestic (or in possession of a male involved in it) then that makes things a whole different issue.

My final opinion will be one of the as follows depending on what we learn from the officer:
Learn to close the gate behind you locking your dog in the fence and ..
A: the officer response was appropiate because he understood that .... OR
B: the officer was blatently gung-go and needs more training
AND the officer involved as well as the officers in his department might want to consider tossing in some money and getting the man another dog (Its the right thing to do and good PR never hurts in the long run).

[mamabearCali]

Could I suggest a D.

D. Postulate a training or a device that makes it less likely for a first responder to end up at the wrong house.

As we have seen, being at the wrong address can have deadly can have deadly consequences. Luckily this time it a was (a most beloved) pet, next time it might be a person.

[nyj]

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.

[Oldgringo]

I still want to hear the officers side of things and learn why he felt that he had to draw on the OP's friend, who we assume was unarmed and non-aggressive. This will determine what "side" I come down on. It doesn't seem reasonanble to draw your weapon and point it at the first person you see when responding to a Domestic Disturbance. Now if the original caller had reported that a weapon was involved in the Domestic (or in possession of a male involved in it) then that makes things a whole different issue.

My final opinion will be one of the as follows depending on what we learn from the officer:
Learn to close the gate behind you locking your dog in the fence and ..
A: the officer response was appropiate because he understood that .... OR
B: the officer was blatently gung-go and needs more training
AND the officer involved as well as the officers in his department might want to consider tossing in some money and getting the man another dog (Its the right thing to do and good PR never hurts in the long run).

It has been said here, and elsewhere, many times that a "Domestic Disturbance" is the most dangerous call an LEO can answer. Why was this LEO alone on that call?

[C-dub]

Why was this LEO alone on that call?

That is an outstanding observation. Perhaps all the others were at the correct address.

[nyj]

Why was this LEO alone on that call?

That is an outstanding observation. Perhaps all the others were at the correct address.

LOL

[sjfcontrol]

At large and running at large means off of and outside of the premises of the owner and not under the immediate control of the owner or other person by use of a collar and leash, and shall apply to all animals on the premises of the owner which are not kept secured by an adequate fence or which are not kept secured by a chain attached to the animals in a humane manner sufficient to prevent the animals from running at large.

This is the definition of "at large" from my city's ordinances. It is probably very similar in most other cities. It may not be right, but that's what it says. Notice it does not take into account how much training a dog has had or the control one is able to demonstrate over their dog.

Ok -- that would appear to include my peaceful dog, assuming that " premises" has its CHL meaning ( i.e., not meaning property).

Re-reading that, it's strange wording. How does one get " off of a building or portion of a building"?

[MoJo]

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

According to the KXAN story above, the officer was at the address he was dispatched to. The person who called the domestic disturbance in gave the wrong address. According to KXAN, the actual address was next door. So the officer was where he was dispatched to. If he was the first on the scene at a domestic call I understand why he had gun in hand. This still doesn't bring Cisco back or lessen the responsibility to make things right.

[speedsix]

...since when do police, even on a domestic dispute, pull a gun on an unarmed man who's just walking around the side of his house in broad daylight??? That's a bit much, even given the wrong address...I can see where he felt threatened by the dog, but if he'd been behaving in a calm, professional manner, the dog wouldn't have advanced on him...he was screaming at his owner and holding a gun on him...I don't blame the dog...this should cost the city a bundle and the officer some time off...and if he was given the wrong address by HQ, time off for the person who put out the wrong address...the saddest part of this all, nothing will bring Cisco back...the best thing about this...the hysterical officer didn't shoot the homeowner...

[speedsix]

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/aust ... dogs-death

According to the KXAN story above, the officer was at the address he was dispatched to. The person who called the domestic disturbance in gave the wrong address. According to KXAN, the actual address was next door. So the officer was where he was dispatched to. If he was the first on the scene at a domestic call I understand why he had gun in hand. This still doesn't bring Cisco back or lessen the responsibility to make things right.

...I made hundreds of domestic disturbances...in all parts of town in all times of the night...all by myself because there WAS no backup...I never answered ONE with gun in hand...even when I had to peel them apart...in all those years, I had to pull my gun on ONE man...after spotting a .38 in his jeans pocket, and having peeled him off his wife...I think the gun in hand is used too much...for various reasons...among which are found unreasonable fear and incompetence...

[nyj]

young cop, quick on the trigger.

[MoJo]

...since when do police, even on a domestic dispute, pull a gun on an unarmed man who's just walking around the side of his house in broad daylight??? That's a bit much, even given the wrong address...I can see where he felt threatened by the dog, but if he'd been behaving in a calm, professional manner, the dog wouldn't have advanced on him...he was screaming at his owner and holding a gun on him...I don't blame the dog...this should cost the city a bundle and the officer some time off...and if he was given the wrong address by HQ, time off for the person who put out the wrong address...the saddest part of this all, nothing will bring Cisco back...the best thing about this...the hysterical officer didn't shoot the homeowner...

Agreed, the gun in hand was over the top. I said I understood why he drew his gun. This all boils down to the quality of training the officer received both in the academy and under an FTO. Some departments are very reluctant to weed out poor candidates.

[mamabearCali]

Oh...that changes things a bit. Yeah.. The best thing to do is say I'm terribly sorry, and offer to buy the man another dog. You can't change the decision you made, just try to make things as right as you can. Just like if you busted down the wrong door the best thing to do is to replace a door.

[nyj]

Oh...that changes things a bit. Yeah.. The best thing to do is say I'm terribly sorry, and offer to buy the man another dog. You can't change the decision you made, just try to make things as right as you can. Just like if you busted down the wrong door the best thing to do is to replace a door.

amen. Instead, APD are being extremely crude. "We offered an apology." We??? You upper command sitting in your office all day making a butt load of that lovely liberal Austin money do not have any place to make an apology -- only the officer that pulled the trigger can make a sincere apology.