Police need to stop being so trigger happy. :(

[Platapus]

This story and others like them seem to be popping up more often. I understand that police work is hazardous but at the same time, we can't allow police to adopt such a casual habit of shoot first, then find out what's going on.

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

Cop kills dog while at wrong address

Domestic distrubance call at nearby home

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man is mourning the loss of his dog after an Austin police mistakenly showed up on his property for a domestic disturbance call. The officer shot and killed the dog because he felt threatened while responding to the call which was actually happening next door. "I never got an explanation why this mistake was made," said Michael Paxton.


Paxton and his dog Cisco, an Australian cattle dog, were playing in his backyard at 2613 E. Fifth St. on Saturday afternoon. Paxton said he walked around to his truck to get something when he saw a police officer Thomas Griffin.


According to Paxton, the officer drew his gun and pointed it at Paxton while telling him to put his hands up, but would not tell him why.


Hearing the commotion, Cisco ran to where Paxton and the officer were standing and began barking at the officer.


Dashcam video caught the verbal exchange between Paxton and Griffin which took place entirely on Paxton's property. The officer can be heard yelling "get your hands up" and "get your dog" just seconds before a gunshot rings out. Paxton then pleads with the officer and asks why his dog was shot.


At that time, the officer explained he had been dispatched to a domestic disturbance call in the neighborhood. Paxton, who was home alone with his dog, said the officer had the wrong house and was supposed to respond to his neighbor's home.


Austin police say the caller who phoned in the domestic disturbance gave the wrong address and they apologized to Paxton for the mix-up and the death of his dog.


"(Griffin) is distraught about this," said Sgt. David Daniels. APD says there is an internal review every time an officer's firearm is discharged. Griffin is still on duty and APD would not answer questions about why a firearm was used instead of a taser.


"We are not going to second guess our officer," said Daniels who says officers can use force when they feel physically threatened by an animal.
Paxton said Cisco has never bitten anyone and would not have attacked the officer despite the barking.


"He shows that behavior, then he sniffs you and wants to be scratched."
Paxton and friends have already set up a Facebook page that has more than 22,000 likes. However, he discouraged negative comments towards the officer.


"I can’t bring my dog back, but I want something positive come out of this."

We have had several such cases in my neck of the woods. We have had the police shoot dogs that were behind fences (no threat to the cop). We have even had miniature breeds gunned down.



How can the police not be punished for shooting when they go to the wrong address or before they find out what is going on? In the cases in my area, the police don't even apologize.


This reckless and dangerous behavior on the part of the police really makes it hard to support them. As a citizen, I should not live in fear from the police. But I find myself just doing that.