Police Shoot Mayors Dogs!!!

I read this story this morning and was in complete shock.  Un-freaking-believable!

 I think I'm going to be sick.  I don't think the image of that woman being forced to lay down next to the body of her black lab is going to leave my head in a hurry.

 That's just great, it had happened before and nothing was done.  Now that it's the mayor it gets press?  That's really messed up.  Have to admit, it's not the first time I've heard less than flattering reports about Prince George's county law enforcement.  Looks like some changes are needed.

BCMixs

Now that it's the mayor it gets press?

Here's the thing - they are saying the investigators didn't even know it was the Mayor's house.  If that is true, then that screams of a terrible "investigation" and further poor judgement.  I find it appaling because of the seemingly pathetic investigation.  You're right - I only know about this incident because this man is the mayor.  I feel sorry for anyone else who has experienced this.  If these dogs died in order to shine a huge spotlight on what appears might be a general problem in that area- and perhaps other citizens and law enforcement see this and want to avoid this happening in their cities, then that's the main "good" I can see coming from it.

Video of an interview on MSNBC:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26090437#26090437

 This could be a problem anywhere.  Police are not trained to know whether a barking dog means business or is just alerting.  And, in many circumstances, they have the right to enter a premises without giving you time to contain your dogs.  I live with three dogs that are alert barkers, and have nightmares about what would happen if my BF needed an ambulance and I was not here to contain them.  One of them would certainly try to fend off a burglar, and she would have no idea that a police officer or ambulance driver was not a burglar if they entered the home without any instruction from me.  This is a serious issue, and I think that there's no easy solution.  But, a peeved Aussie that is guarding and coming at you looks a lot different than a Lab that's just barking and backing up. JMHO, but there is never any reason for a cop to make a retribution killing of a dog, not saying that was the case here.  But, it has happened, largely because most statutes say that they only have to feel threatened by the dog to act.

spiritdogs

 This could be a problem anywhere.  Police are not trained to know whether a barking dog means business or is just alerting.  And, in many circumstances, they have the right to enter a premises without giving you time to contain your dogs. 

 

Well, there's some dispute about whether they had a No Knock warrant or not.  That will come out in the investigation hopefully.

BCMixs

The article says they followed the 2nd dog into the back yard and killed it.  That's not an officer in fear of being bit or attacked, that's an overzealous, *(&^head officer.  The poor dog got scared and ran away.  Would it be so hard for the officer to close the door????  And to make the poor woman lie down on the ground next to the body of the dog????  Heads need to roll, regardless of their beliefs as to fear from the first dog, those two events were clearly NOT S.O.P. 

Someone needs to pay for this one. I can see some justification if the cops are going into a crack house full of guns and starving dogs trained to attack cops but this is over the line. If it had to happen then it is good it happened to the mayor. Hopefully he has the fortitude to see this to the end.

 If I have no record of wrong doing, no prior arrests, nothing at all, then there should be no reason for the cops to bust my door down without at least trying to knock. I think the homeowners would have been within their rights to shoot the attacking officers.

 I hope it never happens at my house because I think that is what I would have done.

The whole story is really scary for a number of reasons.  Some anonymous person can mail a box of drugs to my address, hoping that I won't be home and they can get it off my porch or out of my mailbox before I do and I'd know nothing about it?  And that the investigating officers don't contact the local police force?   And the No Knock Warrant issue is pretty big, I think it will come out that they screwed up big time on that one.  They didn't even have it with them!  And it's very scary that it had happened before to someone else but there was no national coverage as there is here.   And if they were already watching the house, why didn't they arrest him when he picked up the package on the front porch?  Why wait a while and then bust in unannounced? 

The whole thing infuriates me! 

BCMixs

The whole story is really scary for a number of reasons. 

The thing that bothers me so much is the sense of entitlement that some law enforcement officers feel - that they have carte blanche to do whatever they want in the course of their duties, and it is justified because they're the "good guys" in pursuit of the "bad guys."

I understand being a police officer is a demanding and dangerous job, but it is NOT acceptable (in this country at least) for the police to be above the law, or abusive in their use of power. They had no right to use the force they did, and had they done some homework OR exhibited some self control, those poor dogs would be alive and the mayor's family would not be feeling so violated and helpless.

Imagine what its like to be poor and powerless and have the police treat you this way? Happens all the time and those people have no recourse. Our laws and rights exist for a reason - to protect the innocent from abuses of power, even when that power believes it is acting for the greater good. 

BCMixs

spiritdogs

 This could be a problem anywhere.  Police are not trained to know whether a barking dog means business or is just alerting.  And, in many circumstances, they have the right to enter a premises without giving you time to contain your dogs. 

 

Well, there's some dispute about whether they had a No Knock warrant or not.  That will come out in the investigation hopefully.

The article says they followed the 2nd dog into the back yard and killed it.  That's not an officer in fear of being bit or attacked, that's an overzealous, *(&^head officer.  The poor dog got scared and ran away.  Would it be so hard for the officer to close the door????  And to make the poor woman lie down on the ground next to the body of the dog????  Heads need to roll, regardless of their beliefs as to fear from the first dog, those two events were clearly NOT S.O.P. 

Oh, I wasn't questioning that.  My point was that the law generally works against the dog owner in these situations.  If someone can prove that they violated an ordinance, or entered without the proper warrant, then I's be the first one to say that some heads should roll.  I just think that people need to be aware how fast things can go south for your dog if the police get involved with you, right or wrong.  And, it doesn't have to be related to criminal activity.  Could be as simple as a 911 call that brings the cops and the ambulance. They'll push their way in, right past you, to get to the victim, and if your dog objects, bang. 
 

You're right about that one.  I remember a story about a dog being shot because the owner was upstairs in need of medical attention and EMS couldn't get past the dog so they called the police.  Luckily, the dog survived but it is a good point, our dogs can't differentiate between good guys and bad guys.  

I think the sheriff and county police are in for some expensive apologizing.  If what the mayor has said about the No Knock Warrant ordinance is true, they violated procedure.  The screen shots I've seen of the warrant are pretty straightforward, warrant to search and seize for one box of marijuana, that's it.  There's not alot of extra authority to use force, search for any drug paraphernalia, etc.   The fact that 2 law enforcement agencies knew this was a scam being run, didn't notify the town's police force, and used such egregious force is just bad bad all around.  From other articles I've read, these agencies have used excessive force when executing warrants in the past and have shot and killed other dogs as well.  Hopefully those who were affected in the past will contact the FBI's civil rights investigators and file complaints.

It seems these same guys killed another dog back in November. They served a warrant on a couple and as it turns out they had the wrong people and the wrong address. The people were telling the police that they had the wrong house when they heard their dog barking in the back. They asked if they could go and contain there dog and they were told no. A few moments later they heard two shots and their dog was dead.

 Seems these guys are pretty good at shooting innocent people's dogs.