K9 Officer Killed. What should happen?

[Bignugget 0]

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=933791#.UgzCD9KOS8A

Fucked up sad story but it raised some interesting questions in my mind.

1) Do any of the lawyers around here know what happens if you as a bad guy, kill the K9 in his performing of his duties? Are you charged with animal cruelty, or murder of a police officer?

2) Should this cop who was obviously grossly negligent be charged with a crime? Do animal owners who leave pets locked in cars get charged as a general rule?

If yes to #2, is the dog considered a person or an animal for the purposes of criminal liability (relating back to #1)....?

3) WTF kind of training are these guys getting in animal responsibility?

[Gravitymaster 0]

I think at a very minimum the Officer should be charged with animal cruelty and fired. He obviously lacks the good judgment required to be a law enforcement Officer.

[DiverMike 5]

There is no way out to avoid charging him with a crime (nor should there be).

I don't think there is enough information given to determine if he should be fired. I am guessing he will eventually be charged/plea to some misdemeanor, and I don't know if that is cause for dismissal. I am not a LEO, but it seems sometimes cops do worse things and still don't lose their jobs.

For the same reason I jump off a perfectly good diving board.

[rehmwa 2]

that poor cop, I bet he's tore up over this - those cops get REALLY attached to their K9's. The responsible thing to do is reassign him from that group as a minimum. Clearly he screwed up royally

this isn't purposeful cruelty, but it is neglect -I'm sure there's a law there and appropriate punishment for neglect.



How on earth would did you come up with the question about 'considered a person or an animal'?

It's a dog, it's not a person. You city people really confuse me at times. Frankly, it's not a police officer either, it's a tool used by police.

That said, I think the penalties for 'neglect' like this should be pretty heavy, care/responsibility of an animal is a big freakin deal.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Gravitymaster 0]

Perhaps the Officer should undergo some Counciling, do a Mea Culpa and then perform 400 hours of community service in an animal shelter working with abused animals as an option to losing his job.

[Niki1 1]

  Gravitymaster

Perhaps the Officer should undergo some Counciling, do a Mea Culpa and then perform 400 hours of community service in an animal shelter working with abused animals as an option to losing his job.

That's entirley reasonable. Every summer there are several stories of animals and children being left in cars.

I would like to see the person responsible put into the car foe a while. It can reach 120, maybe more inside a closed car. I hate it when people or animals are hurt by the stupidity of others so I may not be entirely reasonable.

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done.
Louis D Brandeis

Where are we going and why are we in this basket?

[rehmwa 2]

  Gravitymaster

Perhaps the Officer should undergo some Counciling, do a Mea Culpa and then perform 400 hours of community service in an animal shelter working with abused animals as an option to losing his job.

I don't know what the law is for neglect - whatever it is, even your kinda liberal approach above..... ; ) - he should be prosecuted for neglect, just like anyone else, cop or otherwise. Whether he's tore up, or thinks it's funny, or just numb about it. Apply the law exactly like you would to anyone else. Directly, fairly, and without any emotional bias.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[turtlespeed 226]

  rehmwa

that poor cop, I bet he's tore up over this - those cops get REALLY attached to their K9's. The responsible thing to do is reassign him from that group as a minimum. Clearly he screwed up royally

this isn't purposeful cruelty, but it is neglect -I'm sure there's a law there and appropriate punishment for neglect.



How on earth would did you come up with the question about 'considered a person or an animal'?

It's a dog, it's not a person. You city people really confuse me at times. Frankly, it's not a police officer either, it's a tool used by police.

That said, I think the penalties for 'neglect' like this should be pretty heavy, care/responsibility of an animal is a big freakin deal.

How many awards for bravery do the tools in your garage have?

[urlhttp://www.corpsman.com/forum/showthread.php?29265-K-9-Congressional-Medal-of-Honor[/url] this guy got the medal of honor.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[rehmwa 2]

  Niki1

***Perhaps the Officer should undergo some Counciling, do a Mea Culpa and then perform 400 hours of community service in an animal shelter working with abused animals as an option to losing his job.

That's entirley reasonable. Every summer there are several stories of animals and children being left in cars.

I would like to see the person responsible put into the car foe a while. It can reach 120, maybe more inside a closed car. I hate it when people or animals are hurt by the stupidity of others so I may not be entirely reasonable.


I really like the contrast of these two posts.

- one is very touchy/feely and left wingy like

- the other is very eye-for-an-eye biblical and kinda religious righty like

it's why we have laws and process instead of letting emotional outrage drive our laws (or at least we are supposed to)

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

  turtlespeed

How many awards for bravery do the tools in your garage have?

[urlhttp://www.corpsman.com/forum/showthread.php?29265-K-9-Congressional-Medal-of-Honor[/url] this guy got the medal of honor.

you'd have been the last guy I'd have thought to use a government acknowledgement and PR event to rationalize human emotions onto a dog. Dogs are brave because they are wired that way. I think they are fantastic. But pets <> humans. I'm not putting them down so much as acknowledging reality. Most of the time (like 90%+) I'd rather be around dogs than people, frankly.

- it's cute when we anthropomorphize pets, wildlife, guns, etc with human traits.


I think my hammer has two medals. They were stickers on the tag.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Gravitymaster 0]

  rehmwa

***Perhaps the Officer should undergo some Counciling, do a Mea Culpa and then perform 400 hours of community service in an animal shelter working with abused animals as an option to losing his job.

I don't know what the law is for neglect - whatever it is, even your kinda liberal approach above..... ; ) - he should be prosecuted for neglect, just like anyone else, cop or otherwise. Whether he's tore up, or thinks it's funny, or just numb about it. Apply the law exactly like you would to anyone else. Directly, fairly, and without any emotional bias.

I agree he should be charged for animal abuse just like anyone else. My statement above is only proffered as an alternative to losing his job.

[turtlespeed 226]

  rehmwa

***How many awards for bravery do the tools in your garage have?

[urlhttp://www.corpsman.com/forum/showthread.php?29265-K-9-Congressional-Medal-of-Honor[/url] this guy got the medal of honor.

you'd have been the last guy I'd have thought to use a government acknowledgement and PR event to rationalize human emotions onto a dog. Dogs are brave because they are wired that way. I think they are fantastic. But pets <> humans. I'm not putting them down so much as acknowledging reality. Most of the time (like 90%+) I'd rather be around dogs than people, frankly.

- it's cute when we anthropomorphize pets, wildlife, guns, etc with human traits.


I think my hammer has two medals. They were stickers on the tag.

I guess my point is that dogs are not inanimate objects.
They experience fear, and a whole slew of other emotions.

I would consider them sentient.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[champu 1]

I don't think the OP was recommending that the cop dog be treated more like a person in the eyes of the law for the purposes of punishing his handler. I think he was fishing for a double-standard, suggesting that if an officer and his dog were on a call and a suspect caused the dog's death (directly or otherwise) the chief would be going on about how the dogs are every bit an officer as they are.

Personally I'm inclined to avoid escalating stupidity. Instead of saying, "Well in this parallel scenario we first put our head in our ass before making decisions so, and I'm only trying to be fair here, I strongly feel our heads should be in our asses before we discuss the present matter any further."

[jclalor 12]

They should put him to sleep.

[rehmwa 2]

  Gravitymaster

I agree he should be charged for animal abuse just like anyone else. My statement above is only proffered as an alternative to losing his job.

My bad - I couldn't tell if you were being serious or mocking certain elements of the legal system.

I get you now. (though I have more fun with the mockery).

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

  turtlespeed

I guess my point is that dogs are not inanimate objects.

at least most breeds

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Bignugget 0]

  champu

I don't think the OP was recommending that the cop dog be treated more like a person in the eyes of the law for the purposes of punishing his handler. I think he was fishing for a double-standard, suggesting that if an officer and his dog were on a call and a suspect caused the dog's death (directly or otherwise) the chief would be going on about how the dogs are every bit an officer as they are.

Personally I'm inclined to avoid escalating stupidity. Instead of saying, "Well in this parallel scenario we first put our head in our ass before making decisions so, and I'm only trying to be fair here, I strongly feel our heads should be in our asses before we discuss the present matter any further."

Thanks shampoo. (thats how I see your name, makes me lol every time)

I knew you could distill it for me

Yes REHMWA.

I am simply asking.

I know I have HEARD if you shot a K9 dog while hes coming after you, or assault the dog, you can be charged for actions against a police officer (human)

...not just charged with animal cruelty.

Since I have never done any real research, I was curious if the lawyers lurking the boards knew how accurate that was, and what really happens when you kill a K9 dog.



Personally, the dude should be punished in whatever way we typically punish "Aunt Sue" who left her dog in the car while she ran into the bank and it died...etc.

[Bignugget 0]

Did a little googling.

Found this

"Priddy is being held in the Clark County jail on charges including attempted murder of a police officer, causing the death of a law enforcement animal, burglary, residential entry, pointing a firearm, and criminal recklessness with a firearm.

Read more: http://fox59.com/2013/06/24/officer-k9-shot-during-swat-standoff-in-sellersburg/#ixzz2cA5qcDnN"


So maybe there is a crime called

"Causing the death of a law enforcement animal"

Wonder how the penalty compares to other crimes.

[swisschris62 0]

Well the department put him on a 60 day suspension without pay is the latest news.
Oh yeah, and he's not allowed to be a K9 cop.....REALLY?!?!
With all that time off you would think he'd have time to get a puppy and start doing scent work with it...NOT.
Along with that suspension they should dig into his pocket for the cost of the dog and what it cost to get the dog to the level he was at.

[Gravitymaster 0]

  swisschris62

Well the department put him on a 60 day suspension without pay is the latest news.
Oh yeah, and he's not allowed to be a K9 cop.....REALLY?!?!
With all that time off you would think he'd have time to get a puppy and start doing scent work with it...NOT.
Along with that suspension they should dig into his pocket for the cost of the dog and what it cost to get the dog to the level he was at.

And their should also be some compensation for his parents. They have lost not just the continuation of their blood line, but also their puppy.

[swisschris62 0]

When they're done figuring out the compensation they should sit down and run the numbers on the vet bill, funeral expenses and any other cost the town incurred.
The trained dog alone should knock him back about 100g.

[Bignugget 0]

  swisschris62

When they're done figuring out the compensation they should sit down and run the numbers on the vet bill, funeral expenses and any other cost the town incurred.
The trained dog alone should knock him back about 100g.

An interesting take.

Did he destroy state property through negligence and should he be responsible for reimbursement?

Again, I think it all depends on how K9 in the line of duty deaths are handled normally.

If a normal 'criminal' is required to pay that stuff, then that's fair enough.

[Bignugget 0]

I did a bit more poking around

http://www.policek9.com/html/statutes.html

It looks like several states make a distinction from normal civilian animals and LEO animals.

It also appears they are proposing (or have proposed) to make it a felony in Texas.