Joseph DeMasi and his dog Copper
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What was a normal day in the park for a Radford student turned violent last week, when an officer from the Radford Police Department shot his dog, Copper, while it was off its leash in a city park.
The incident — which occurred on Friday, Feb. 2 — has quickly turned into a case of conflicting testimonies, as student Joseph DeMasi and the officer have very different stories of how the pointer terrier ended up with bullet wounds to its right front leg and back paw.
Both sides agree on the initial facts of the situation: DeMasi and his friend Corey Schmitt took their dogs to the city park and let them off of their leashes in a secluded area.
However, the stories split once the officer arrived on the scene.
DeMasi said the altercation was the result of an officer who “just pulled out his gun and didn’t think twice.”
“We hear a cop yell, ‘Get your dogs on a leash,’ and the dogs turned and looked and saw him,” DeMasi said. “They started running toward him like they would anyone else, to greet him — there was no barking or growling.”
DeMasi said the dogs were 10 to 15 yards from the officer when he shot at the dogs. He said at first he didn’t even realize it was his dog that had been hit.
“I turn around and see my dog whimpering down the riverbank and collapses in the river,” he said. “Then I picked him up and ignored the officer completely.”
The officer’s story varies significantly.
“The reason the officer was called down there was a citizen’s complaint of ‘two dogs that were off leash and acting mean.’ Those were the words of the complainant,” said Lieutenant Scott Schwarzer of the RPD.
“As (the officer) got out of his vehicle, these two dogs began to run in the officer’s direction,” he said. “One of them stopped and returned to the other involved owner, the other did not. The officer yelled to the owner to call off the dog, and the dog was not responding. And the dog was aggressive and launched toward the officer and left the officer no choice but to pull his firearm to stop the dog.”
The officer fired his weapon once.
Upon realizing his dog was critically wounded, DeMasi immediately took it to the Riverside Animal Clinic to get emergency care with the officer following him.
Clinic employees were able to confirm Copper had been admitted for a gunshot wound to his right side, but they wouldn’t comment on other details. Once the dog was taken for treatment, DeMasi and Schmitt were given citations for illegally having their dogs off their leashes in the park.
“It’s not a dog park. It is a city park,” Schwarzer said. “It requires dogs to be on leashes at all times.”
According to DeMasi, the officer made further comments at the veterinary clinic that offended him.
“He told me I’m lucky his aim wasn’t better and I’m lucky my dog isn’t dead,” DeMasi said. “He repeated it several more times later.”
DeMasi also claims the officer forced him onto his knees with his hands behind his back after a quip about the officer’s grammar.
Schwarzer declined to address those allegations, stating they were inappropriate to discuss.
Copper is recovering from the wound. DeMasi said he is considering pressing charges over the incident, which also left him with a $500 veterinary bill.
The officer’s actions were internally investigated, but Schwarzer said that is standard procedure and the officer “responded appropriately and accordingly to the situation.”
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 8 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Typical fascist response. I hope this guy sues the town/PD for damages of all kinds, including getting a behavior report for his dog.
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The officer shouldn't have fired his weapon. He could have taken out his Asp/telescoping baton...if the dog was vicious, wail on it. Yes the kid should have had the dog on a leash but when you shoot a dog, you don't talk smack to the owner and give him a ticket. What a prick. And how about unnecessary roughness? Yeah the kid was probably being a tool to you but, try to remember, YOU JUST SHOT HIS DOG. I wonder if this cop shoots any small thing that runs toward him, like cats or toddlers or shopping carts? You can never be too safe.
And PEOPLE! Supporting police is one thing, but that doesn't mean we don't get to hold them responsible for their actions. You don't want someone to 'protect and serve' you who pulls out a gun everytime something makes him jump.
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This was my thought as well. I am just glad it didn't happen to me, because either myself or the officer would have left the field in a body bag. I don't care what color shirt/badge combination you are wearing - if you shoot my unarmed dog, you better believe that I am going return fire in his defense.
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exactly, but good luck. that's how we roll here.
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Why didn't the owner just call his dog back? The owner caused this response by ignoring his dog while it charged someone carrying a gun.
The officer was responding to a complaint about the dogs being mean and it charged an officer. Coincidence? I don't think so.
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Are you stupid? Do you even have dogs? They are curious of new people. Not everyones dog is trained perfectly. Most dogs when they see a new person will run towards them out of curiousity. I bet this dog wasn't being agressive at all. This story makes me very angry. This cop overreacted and should be sued.
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Any dog who is allowed off-leash needs to have a reliable recall. When you say, "Copper, come!" that dog had better turn on his heels and come.
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You need to be shot next. What a dumb response you have. Don't give this ass hole cop the benefit of the doubt here. You can't say "Oh you should have called your dog off", Do you think that every dog in the world is trained that well?? More than likely the dog knows how to sit, lay, shake, and maybe roll over. but to "Call your dog off" would mean you set your dog to attack in the first place, or was in the process of attacking. Who in their right mind would assume "Oh, that police officer is going to shoot my dog". Not many. So take your comments about protecting the rights of the police officer who shot a dog with no proper cause and go jump off a cliff.
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So he didn't have control of his dog, it was off the leash and complaints were made about the dog's behavior. And he claims to be the victim. If you can't keep control of your dog, keep it on a leash so it doesn't maul someone.
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I vote everyone should just run that cop out of town. Do it to him Bill Buckner style.
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Is shooting a dog standard procedure? Is there not a nonviolent solution to handle a dog running towards you?
I hope the dog is okay.
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I guess the officer should have waited to see if he was going to be attacked. Glad the officer is safe!
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If you can't tell the difference between a dog approaching aggressively, and one with a wagging tail coming to say 'hi' you have neither the mental capacity or judgement to be trusted with a gun.
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If you can't tell the difference between an aggressive dog approaching, and one with a wagging tail coming to say "hi," then you have neither the mental capacity or judgement to be trusted to carry a firearm in protection of public space
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If the dog was SOOO "aggressive " they would've put him down!! Regardless, it was childish to tell him" he was lucky his aim was off"!! He needs to spend some more time at the firing range if he missed by that much!!
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He should be fired for being a jerk and a bad shot.
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It amazes me how our young people have such contempt and disrespect for police officers. How do you think the US would be without them. None of us were there. Yet everyone here assumes that it was all the officer's fault and also act like they are experts on police procedure. As a VT student I am ashamed by the comments here and that of Demasi. May God help us if the people here represent the majority.
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Sure, us ‘whippersnappers’ should be ashamed for asking questions. All of our preconceived assumptions are erroneous just because you say so and require major adjustments. We should repent and focus more on what you believe we should all think god and country. Because, if fact, it is what you believe that is right in this world.
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Really? Have you already forgotten the outpouring of support for Officer Crouse and his family? There are plenty of great police officers in Blacksburg who do their jobs well and treat everyone with respect while trying to keep us all safe. Don't think "our young people" have no respect for these officers.
It's pretty clear that the dog should have been on a leash but it seems as though the officer probably overreacted in his response. The alleged comments made by the officer at the vet clinic are inexcusable. If true, this officer deserves every bit of contempt and disrespect shown here.
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I would be fired for antagonizing someone like that while representing my employer, no question. It is disgusting to me that a person tasked with defending a public space through the use of deadly for if necessary, should be held to a lower professional standard than someone who writes computer code for a living.
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There is a simple reason why we're so contemptuous towards policeofficer
s. They have no respect for the people that they're supposedly serving and protecting this is a perfect example as to why. I have lived in radford for number of years in these cops are completely useless and incompetent. Instead of fighting the drug dealers and stopping the violence they spend their time at the university looking at the girls walking down the street they are totally useless. This is not something new I can personally say it's been going on for at least twenty years. The dog owner has every right to sue for property damages. As long as we can get the case heard outside of radford city
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The police departments and officers of Radford and Blacksburg are two completely different balls of wax. I have lived in this area for a decade. I have watched BPD officers go out of their way to help people, and I have watched Radford police officers go out of their way to take advantage of and abuse people for their own entertainment. Everyone who lives in Radford knows this and they do not trust the police.
There is no way I can imagine a Blacksburg cop shooting a dog like. I am not surprised even a little bit to hear that a Radford cop did.
The Radford police department is completely corrupt and useless and this is common knowledge.
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this is the truth and everyone that lives in Radford knows it.
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Perhaps if the public wasn't paid lip service every time an officer does something like this, the public would be more inclined to trust the police. How can they say his actions are being investigated, but that he acted appropriately? Isn't that the point of the investigation, to determine whether or not he acted appropriately? Unless it is all just being swept under the big blue rug to begin with. Maybe if the officer hadn't acted like a jackass, antagonizing the kid at the vet. Maybe if he had acted with compassion, or if the department came out with a statement of remorse for the victims, they would win more public support.
No, instead we are just told to bend over and take it, and to be happy that the cop didn't empty the entire magazine into the dog. Disgusting. Police who act this way, and departments who refuse to operate with any shred of transparency deserve disdain, not respect.
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Hey Anonymous, Its funny how you mentioned God in the same context with Cops and Guns. And why are you assuming every response is from a young person? I am 41. No, I cannot imagine a country without police, but I certainly can imagine one without Radford Police. And I am in agreement with consensus, if a police officer can't recognize a dogs intentions or attempt to subdue it some other way, then they ought not to be charged with protecting the public good.
You are ashamed with DeMasi? What kind of world do you live in? Blindly supporting a police force widely considered as racketeers. A police force considered by many as aggressive and confrontational to the public they are meant to serve. A police force that feeds of RU students to generate income. I am ashamed of you. You quietly disgust me.
Maybe God can help you reconcile that.
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I am of your generation, Anonymous and I agree with the "younger generation". The officer had no business shooting the dog, period. Would that officer shoot someone's child if he/she were threatening another child? Of course, you would say that a dog is not a child, but that is where you are wrong. Hundreds of thousands of people in the area have dogs and consider them to be exactly the same as a child and because of this, officers should treat dogs the same way they would a child. Dogs telegraph their intentions, humans don't. An officer should be more prepared to shoot a kid. They are unpredictable, the dog tells you everything that he is going to do before he does it. You pro-cop bunch had better fear for your lives because the cops already have too many excuses to shoot you. I'm surprised that the cop didn't shoot the dog owner and lie about that too. Sounds like it is time to boot the police chief.
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It amazes me how our young people have such contempt and disrespect for police officers. How do you think the US would be without them. None of us were there. Yet everyone here assumes that it was all the officer's fault and also act like they are experts on police procedure. As a VT student I am ashamed by the comments here and that of Demasi. May God help us if the people here represent the majority.
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How could this possibly NOT be the officer's fault? I fail to believe that someone's pet dog, while around other people, would decide to randomly act aggressively towards a police officer. Unless the officer was yelling at the dog, in which case, IT IS ENTIRELY THE OFFICER'S FAULT. I'm normally on the officer's side in most incidents, but the cops around here are seriously bending the law these days.
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That doesn't mean the shooting is justified, but the owner is still at fault.
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May God help us if you represent the majority. Your ignorance fails to recognize the ongoing corruption in the Radford Police Department. Racketeering, profiteering off of College students they should be protecting in the form of drunk in public. Don't drive drunk, but when you exercise your intelligence and walk home, we'll get you for Drunk in Public and ruin your college career. Paradoxical parking rules that lead to towing and more income.
In the past 50 years, Radford's leadership has let every valuable industry walk away from this once thriving little city. What's left is a shell of city. I am sure RPD is encouraged to generate revenue off of its citizenship. To feed off of the community it is supposed to protect by court costs, and bail money, and violation fees.
It sickens me and always has. I have seen a bouncer throw a girl out of BT's through the back door for nothing, on to the pavement. Guess who just happened to have 3 police cars parked in the back parking lot. RPD. They picked her up and arrested her without cause and shoved her in the back of squad car. Smells like racket to me.
What's worse is that RPD is led by Chief Donny Goodman. He walked the streets of Blacksburg for 15 years earning his stripes on a decent, service oriented force, only to come to Radford and sell his soul. A disgrace.
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You, Andy, are invoking Our Lord in this matter, because you think God will rain retribution onto a kid playing with his dog, but will place a halo around the head of a cowardly abusive police officer who fired his gun needlessly into a pet dog in a public park. Good thing God does what you tell Him to do, Andy. Good thing there are no checks on police behavior in Radford, so there is someplace for you, Andy, to feel safe and holy.
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How would we be without cops? The same way Americans were for hundreds of years without them. The modern police force is relatively new.
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Seems to me the whole misunderstanding started with the person who called the cops. They wanted to complain about the dogs being off-leash (a valid complaint) but probably thought the cops wouldn't do anything about it unless they said the dogs were posing some threat. The "acting mean" comment by the caller put the officers on guard. If the caller hadn't editorialized, the officers would have been calmer going into the situation and probably no shots would have been fired.
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It seems to me that the problem started with the caller who said the dogs were "acting mean." They probably thought the police wouldn't come do anything about the dogs just being loose, so they editorialized. If the police hadn't been expecting aggressive dogs, their first instinct might not have been to shoot.
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I think I'd have it in me to "critically wound" anyone who hurt my dog...there were so many other options in this situation, other than pulling a gun on dog that's running up to greet. I understand the officer was unaware of the dog's temperament at the moment, but police have other, less damaging weapons on hand to choose from. Glad the pup is okay, and I hope he has no long-term issues as a result.
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This article angers me for a few reasons. One, the injury of the dog. Yes, it is sad and elicits an emotional response. I don't think the reaction of the officer was appropriate. But, he was faced with an unknown situation and had to act. Two, the owner should not have had their dog off leash in a park that is not designated as such. It is the responsible dog owners that win over dog haters. As a dog owner, you are responsible for the health and welfare of your pet. This includes keeping them safe by following the rules. Let's not ignore the original fact: dog off leash. Any citizen has the right to complain about that where it is illegal. If one is not playing by the rules and gets upset at the consequences, I have a hard time siding with their point of view. As a dog owner, it infuriates me when a strange dog off leash comes running up to us. I have no idea of knowing if that dog will try to kill my dog, or even try to kill me. And yes, I have pepper sprayed a strange dog in that situation. And yes, I had my dog on a leash...as per town code. In the eyes of the law I had every right to protect myself.
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While Joey should not have had his dog off leash, the fact remains that plenty of dogs remain off leash in bissett park and the radford campus. It is easy for tech students to keep their dog on a leash, as they have a wonderful dog park a short drive away. Considering the tremendous amount of park radford has, it is rediculous that there is not a dog park.
I also think, no matter what the circumstances were with the leash, that the officer was to quick to pull his firearm in a public park. If policy dictates the the officer acted as he should shoot in that situation, then the policy needs to be reviewed.
Also, no matter who was in the wrong, there is no excuse for being a cold-hearted jackass after shooting someone's pet. I would like to think that a police officer would have a little more heart than that.
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This incident is symptomatic of how Radford is run as a whole. I have walked my dog in Bissett park many times, and some times when there are not many people around, I unleash her and play fetch or just let her run while she is monitored. The city has a seemingly immeasurable amount of open space, yet still cannot manage to create a dog park for its citizens. Dog parks are a litmus for any progressive community. Salem has one, Roanoke, Blacksburg, but not Radford.
I know three people who have suggested a dog park to Radford city leaders. One even gave the now city manager a book about how to start one over 5 years ago. Nothing. Not even a call back. Radford and its police officers have a functioning, well maintained, and purposeful disconnect with their citizens. They are above the laws they are commissioned to enforce, and they like it that way.
Incapable. Backwater. Incompetent. And it is systematic. Worse of they just got a huge new facility where they can practice their aggressiveness and incompetence. They are indicative of the fear-based society created by 9-11 that has given police forces a free reign and bigger budgets to fuel that fear. It's a shame. It is a sad state of affairs and Radford is a model for incompetence and corruption.
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This incident is symptomatic of how Radford is run as a whole. I have walked my dog in Bissett park many times, and some times when there are not many people around, I unleash her and play fetch or just let her run while she is monitored. The city has a seemingly immeasurable amount of open space, yet still cannot manage to create a dog park for its citizens. Dog parks are a litmus for any progressive community. Salem has one, Roanoke, Blacksburg, but not Radford.
I know three people who have suggested a dog park to Radford city leaders. One even gave the now city manager a book about how to start one over 5 years ago. Nothing. Not even a call back. Radford and its police officers have a functioning, well maintained, and purposeful disconnect with their citizens. They are above the laws they are commissioned to enforce, and they like it that way.
Incapable. Backwater. Incompetent. And it is systematic. Worse of they just got a huge new facility where they can practice their aggressiveness and incompetence. They are indicative of the fear-based society created by 9-11 that has given police forces a free reign and bigger budgets to fuel that fear. It's a shame. It is a sad state of affairs and Radford is a model for incompetence and corruption.
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This incident is symptomatic of how Radford is run as a whole. I have walked my dog in Bissett park many times, and some times when there are not many people around, I unleash her and play fetch or just let her run while she is monitored. The city has a seemingly immeasurable amount of open space, yet still cannot manage to create a dog park for its citizens. Dog parks are a litmus for any progressive community. Salem has one, Roanoke, Blacksburg, but not Radford.
I know three people who have suggested a dog park to Radford city leaders. One even gave the now city manager a book about how to start one over 5 years ago. Nothing. Not even a call back. Radford and its police officers have a functioning, well maintained, and purposeful disconnect with their citizens. They are above the laws they are commissioned to enforce, and they like it that way.
Incapable. Backwater. Incompetent. And it is systematic. Worse of they just got a huge new facility where they can practice their aggressiveness and incompetence. They are indicative of the fear-based society created by 9-11 that has given police forces a free reign and bigger budgets to fuel that fear. It's a shame. It is a sad state of affairs and Radford is a model for incompetence and corruption.
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The Gruppenführer Scott Schwarzer has spoken!
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My dogs, that are always kept on-leash unless in their fenced backyards or the dog park, are now leash-aggressive because they have been attacked on four separate occasions by off-leash dogs who escaped from their nearly useless invisible fences while we were walking in our neighborhood. It's sad that the dog was shot (when it's the owner that was being irresponsible!), but there are dog parks where they can run free. Or if you want them to swim in the river, put them on a leash that's 20 feet long (not legal based on the leash law which requires a leash that's 6 feet long, but this situation would've been avoided). Also, any dog permitted off-leash NEEDS to reliably come when called for its own safety - whether the risk is a cop or cars or something else.
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I guess Mr. Hippy will keep his mutt on a leash and listen to the police from now on.
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You are one really insightful person. Thank you for adding some constructive thinking for this discussion
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Mr. Hippy? Thank you for exhibiting your judgmental ignorance to this conversation. Thought of joining the police force? So college students are hippies? Hmmm...seems like natural disdain for the kids smart enough to get into RU, which you were most likely not. It amazes me you found this website to begin with. Must have gotten it from facebook.
Oh, and you can look up "disdain" in the dictionary, if you can manage to find one. It is under "d". Don't worry, they always use smaller words to define bigger words.
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Yes, the call was for an aggressive animal, and yes, a law was being broken, but that does not give the officer a free pass to use deadly force. Responding with a firearm as a first course of action is a bit absurd. Doesn't he have mace or other non-lethal weapons? Do they not have officers or animal control units that are specifically trained and equipped (with tranquilizers, for instance) to deal with aggressive animals?
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It is a two sided story, I have two dogs of my own and they are my best friends. I doubt the officer will get into any trouble just because of the "leash law". But, I hope that they court system looks into this more, hopefully the dog owner will be able to demonstrate the dogs behavior or have his dog evaluated buy professionals to tell weather the dog is agressive or not. If the vets didn't have to put a mussle on the dog then its probably a fact that the dog is not agressive. I hate to hear this story because i love dogs. Unfortiatly the person that probably called the police is probably someone that hates dogs and thinks no one should own them, I hate peoeple like that.
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Pepper spray is used to deter bears. If pepper spray can be used as deterrent for Grizzly, then why can it not be used for a dog? I carry pepper spray ever since my dog was injured and a dog came out of nowhere when I was walking her at night.
No the dogs should not have been off-leash. Yes, the dog should have a reliable recall. But should the officer discharge his weapon in the middle of the park?
A responsible owner makes sure their dog is safe (which often means on a leash for their protection) However, policy needs to be looked out if the first thing is to discharge your weapon, especially in a town park. There are other things that can stop and animal other than a bullet.
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What kind of coward shoots a dog like that? Did he really think that an animal weighing half as much as him, not trained to be aggressive, would be a threat to his life with two other people present? Or is the officer so slow in the head that he can't tell the difference between a dog that is attacking (teeth bared, hair up, trail down, ears back) and one coming t o say 'hi' (tail waging, ears forward, no teeth)? Whether or not he acted within 'official' protocol, I'm not sure I want someone who is so timid, dull and trigger happy carrying a gun around. What's more, the officer's decision to further antagonize the victim was incredibly unprofessional. I would be fired for such behavior, and I don't even carry a gun for my job.
As for the department, how about actually investigating the matter instead of just brushing it under the big blue rug. Policing would be a lot easier in general if the public wasn't paid lip service and told the officer acted appropriately in cases like thus where there is clearly a gray area. If they are so sure the officer's actions were morally defensible, then why not release the coward's name?
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first as a former cop. If there is a report of vicious dogs I would have expected the animal control person to respond. I would have backed them up just in case. But as this was not done for what ever reason I would never have gotten out of my cruiser I would have driven up to the party and said the animal needs to be on a leash and then ask if it is friendly. Then I might get out of my car. Explain the rules and then determine if a citation is warranted. Now remember I am talking only about this situation. I would never had used a firearm,one because I would not have gotten out of my car. two it is to dangerous to fire in this situation. As the officer stated had he been a better shot the dog would have been dead. What if he was a worse shot? What if this shot was just luck? That bullet could have ricocheted and hit a person. The young man was wrong for the dog being off leash the officer was wrong for his reactions both seem to have low I.Q.s But the cop is more troubling he carries a weapon.
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first as a former cop. If there is a report of vicious dogs I would have expected the animal control person to respond. I would have backed them up just in case. But as this was not done for what ever reason I would never have gotten out of my cruiser I would have driven up to the party and said the animal needs to be on a leash and then ask if it is friendly. Then I might get out of my car. Explain the rules and then determine if a citation is warranted. Now remember I am talking only about this situation. I would never had used a firearm,one because I would not have gotten out of my car. two it is to dangerous to fire in this situation. As the officer stated had he been a better shot the dog would have been dead. What if he was a worse shot? What if this shot was just luck? That bullet could have ricocheted and hit a person. The young man was wrong for the dog being off leash the officer was wrong for his reactions both seem to have low I.Q.s But the cop is more troubling he carries a weapon.
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Bill, you are the man. We need more cops like you on the force still.
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Bill, your response makes the absolute most sense out of anything here. There were measures that could and should have been taken in order to avoid the outcome in this situation. It's absolutely terrifying to me think that there is a trigger happy officer who thinks it's ok to shoot dogs. I once had my dog tied up outside of a bank while I went in, something startled him and he pulled his head out of his collar. A very kind police officer saw the incident and let him into the bank and told me what had happened. I assume my dog acted toward this officer in a similar fashion as the owner of the dog above says his dog acted towards the officer. Had the officer above been there instead, would he have decided my dog was aggressive and shot him? It's unacceptable behavior. Dogs aren't just animals, for those of us who are dog people, our dogs are our family.
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Bill, you are indeed a logical and well-spoken person. Too bad you didn't respond to this call. At least the responding officer's aim wasn't that good (insert sarcastic tone here).
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Thank you, Bill, for the sensible comment.
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Nice job of escalation of force....... Some people just aren't cut out to carry firearms.
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I just want to point out what a douche this cop is. He actually said "If I were a better shot, you're dog would be dead."? Honestly he clearly isn't suited to be a police officer. He should be fired, and ran out of town. Frats should have their pledges mess with this dude until he at least issues a public apology and helps with the vet bills and waives the citation (even though the citation is warranted for being off leash, you shot the dog. Kind of negates citing him, that's enough of a penalty). I had a similar experience with Radford police, I woke up in the hospital with a concussion, and didn't know how I got there, and despite not having evidence of me being on my skateboard, the mere fact that I had it with me, was grounds for him to cite me for "playing in the street". When speaking with him later he was asked where I was at when he gave me the citation, to which he responded "The back of the ambulance"... Just saying. Police force is sub par and don't have their priorities in check. I think DeMasi needs to release this officers name, to friends and stuff, and let it circulate who it he so he can be held accountable for his actions the same way that police force feels they are allowed to hold others accountable. Unjustified and Unintelligent-ly.
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The officer who shot the dog was officer Slaughter. I was once at a small party of about 10 people in a townhouse in the middle of the summer. The townhouse was in the very back of the complex and most of the residents were home for summer break. The music was not even loud. We get a knock on the door from officer Slaughter who tells us he can hear the music from the other side of the complex (clearly a lie, he probably saw the girls drinking beer on the back deck) and issued a noise violation to each person who lived there. Every other noise violation I've ever seen issued was one for the whole household. My point in telling this story is that officer Slaughter is abusing is power and something needs to be done about him
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Officer Slaughter is the cop that gave me the citation for playing in the street while I was sitting in the back of the ambulance, after suffering a concussion. I posted a few posts up referencing this. He had no evidence that I was on my skateboard, except the fact that I had it with me. So funny that it was the same ass hole cop.
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Interesting that if a citizen harms a police dog it's cop murder but cops can shoot our dogs willy nilly. And us as well if we have a phone in our hand and they "perceive" a threat. what ever happened to "Serve and protect?" seems they serve and protect themselves and their masters in city hall.
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Seems like Animal Control would have been more appropriate (in response to such a call) rather than Quickdraw...
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Sorry, but that officer was wrong. My dogs run loose constantly, under my direct supervision, just as this guy's dog was. I bet the officer only shot at it because it looks like a pit in the facial area. That is absolutely disgusting. I will surely be donating money to help this guy with his dog's current and future medical care, and I hope he sues that city for every cent of it.
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radford city police are nothing but thugs and criminals with a badge and gun. Cops break the law everyday when they step into that cop car and drive off. They speed. Plus they all think that since they are a cop that they are above the law. Most of them was bullied in life so now since they got a badge and gun that they are bad ass. You shot my dog and i will wait when you dont have that gun and badge on you and i will beat the life out of you with my bare hands.
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Pansy police these days. They use guns when tazers are more appropriate, and tazers when no force should be used at all. This country looks more like NAZI Germany everyday. "Internal investigation" = nothing will happen. Cops literally get away with murder these days; so would us mundane citizens if we got to internally investigate our own criminal actions.
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P.S., it is hard to have sympathy for the few cops who die in the line of duty each year. Everyday we are bombarded with stories of abuse, corruption and brutality, or some power-tripping crazy cop shooting a dog. The animosity between government/cop and private citizen is growing by leaps and bounds every year, and the fact that departments and superiors let their officers get away with acting like thugs does nothing to remedy this situation.
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Too bad the Radford student didn't get this one too.
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Cops with attitudes like this give the other 2% a bad name.
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I agree 100% with you on this... come on an officer can tell when a dog will cause enough damage to kill or even hurt them... ok so you might get bit.. at the worst I don't see a pointer do any real damage other than breaking the skin. he has pepper spary and a taser in most cases but lets pull a gun.... I don't agree with police shooting animals just because they are police... Or OMG how many postmen die from dog bites.... I think you will find none.
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