Rottie shot by police during sweep (Vineland, NJ)

[Rene Allegrini]

Is it me, or are the police too eager to shoot first and ask questions later? More and more articles are about police officers shooting and killing dogs they accuse of "attacking" them when responding to or entering properties and some right in front of children. Sooner or later, an innocent by stander is going to get hurt or killed by an over zealous officer pulling his firearm and using it to stop animals in their tracks.


Dog shot during sweep
Friday, June 15, 2007
By AMANDA HAMM
ahamm@sjnewsco.com

VINELAND -- A detective for the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office fatally shot a female Rottweiler on Rae Drive Monday, and the incident is now under investigation.

According to Prosecutor Ron Casella, Dwayne Watkins shot the dog while assisting a Cumberland County Sheriff's Department officer who was serving a warrant for failure to pay child support.

"As we understand it, the particular suspect they were trying to serve the warrant with refused to come out, so they went into the residence and the dog started to attack the investigator, and he ended up shooting the dog," he explained Thursday. "Of course, the incident is still under investigation."

Casella did not identify the suspect the two officers were attempting to apprehend.

He did say that an investigation is conducted any time a gun is fired by a law enforcement agent.

"Any time there is a use of a firearm by a police officer or law enforcement officer, there is a review of it," he remarked.

The sheriff's department, with assistance from the prosecutor's office, conducted a non-support sweep of the county Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
targeting people who had outstanding child support warrants.

http://www.nj.com/news/bridgeton/loc...20.xml&coll=10

[szky]

Having a number of years in law enforcement, whenever we served a warrant, we did our homework and checked out the location. If there was a dog present, we would have Animal Control with us to handle the dog. If it was a fluid situation (like a foot pursuit) an Officer would do what he'd have to do not get hurt. With Tasers being so available, this incident might encourage this Department to buy them.

The suspects I dealt with were not wanted for non-support warrants. But, since the dog would delay and/or distract an Officer, thus allowing the suspect to either arm himself or flee, this must be taken into consideration. Which would not be the dogs fault since the owner was a jerk.

[Steelerfan]

I think we need to focus on the idiot who put his dog between himself and a police officer.

[moz205]

Coming from a cop family, my first thoughts are to keep the officers safe. That being said, did they not know there was a potential Rottie attack on the other side of that door? On the other hand, this poor animal was owned by an idiot and probably would not be able to be rehomed. Doubt the ex would have taken this dog in. This supposedly was for non payment of child support.