Innocent Dog Shot Dead By Police
Dear Editor,
I’m a door-to-door salesman. I’ve been knocking on doors in North Carolina for over 30 years. I meet dogs as a stranger on a daily basis, and I have been seriously bitten just one time. And my jeans took more of a hit than I did.
Once. In 30 years.
On Sunday morning, the High Point police were called about a stray German shepherd dog who was not being aggressive but had gotten lost.
The responding cop was directed to an innocent home, and an innocent dog, that had nothing to do with the stray. So he shot the innocent dog – four times.
The murdered dog was a black lab, one of the most gentle and inoffensive breeds of dog that there is, and the big tough law enforcement officer claims he (or she) was physically threatened by this puppy.
What a crock. What BS. Are these people the brave “Thin Blue Line” of courageous souls who separate us from anarchy? Or pathetic cowards hiding behind a badge?
What does this tell us about the law enforcement officer involved? And what does it tell us generally about the type of people who are drawn to law enforcement?
Psychologists categorize them as “low intelligence/high control” types. These people were the schoolyard bullies, and they find their fantasies fulfilled in parading around as heroes, with all the might of the state behind their badge, and the power of a pistol on their hip.
But are they heroes or cowards, like all bullies?
I deal with half-a-dozen dogs a day and never have I been in fear of serious physical harm, particularly by a softie black lab.
Our deification of, and reverence for police officers is entirely misplaced.
They are jerks. Power intoxicated, control freak, stupid, swaggering jerks.
And one of them shot dead a family dog, for no reason.
What a hero.
“The more I know people, the more I like dogs.”
Austin Morris
I certainly hope Mr. Austin never needs police assistance…
Our four-legged friends, regardless of breed, have been mislabeled as deliverers of death and maim and no long man’s best friend. I am the owner of two cats; one is 15 years old and the other is 4. They are short-haired domestic felines who enjoy their freedom to go in and out of my apartment via a chained, open door at will. But my mailman refuses to deliver my mail fearing that behind my door is a monster who will inflict bodily harm to him. After not receiving my mail for over a week, I inquired as to its whereabouts. His supervisor told me the ridiculous reason and added, “You can’t blame him.” And I don’t. I blame the supervisor for defending the postman’s actions of not delivering my mail and not having the courtesy as to say why. Even after assuring the post office that no such canine is in my apartment, the non-delivery continued. Only after escalating the concern was something done. It’s a wonder my cats weren’t executed for the benefit of the postal workers. And the destruction of that black lab, who couldn’t possibly be mistaken for a German Shepherd, is nothing more than aggression on the part of a stupid trigger happy patrolperson who needs to be educated and provide the owners with restitution. Shame on that officer. Or perhaps the Lab was sporting a gun?
The letter written by Mr. Austin Morris is one of the most asinine pieces of tripe I have ever seen. To say that all police officers are ” power intoxicated, control freak, stupid swaggering jerks ” because of the actions one officer in question is certainly an absurd rush to judgement to say the least. I would certainly want to know both sides of this story before I wrote a letter like this one which I would never write.
I lived in Greensboro for 55 years before moving about 12 and a half years ago. In all that time the police that I dealt with were caring, courteous, businesslike and professional. I tried to treat them in the same manner. I know that there are some policemen who do not live up to these standards but I feel as if their number is small. I was always confident that if I called the police or was instructed to interact with them, that there would be a good and reasonable outcome.
I hope Mr. Morris never has to call on the police for help after writing the letter he has had published.
All a result of the “Equity” hiring program. Hopefully the owner pursues that POS to the ends of time. I did not vote for this kind of BS, but time to point out the idiots that did.
When you are robbed at gunpoint, be sure to call a dog.
Well Mr. Morris, I believe you have some serious anger issues againt LEA and perhaps soceity at large going on there.
I think more of animals than most people you include after your rant . You were not there you do not know the situation so I say sit down and shut up. You keep on selling whatever it is you sell door to door–Seems like in 30 years you could have moved ahead–Ever tried appling at Mc Donalds?
I own the business buddy, but I still like the challenge of going out cold selling.
It turns me on.
I am only angered at injustice, and the gratuitous shooting of this little fellow was an obscene injustice.
So why don’t you just sit down and shut up?
What was this cop thinking? Makes no sense. Get your facts straight before going Rambo on a small innocent dog
A bad situation, but bottom line keep your dogs inside or inside a fenced yard. That is the law. Don’t put it all on Law Enforcement. If your dog bites someone and causes injury or death, you would be sued. Protect yourself and your pets
Dear Friend, An almost identical incident occurred a couple days earlier in Ohio. Please see link. Caution, it is very disturbing. Will the police release the body cam here? https://nypost.com/2023/07/08/justicefordixie-petition-demanding-fire-of-cop-who-killed-golden-retriever-goes-viral/
I’m sorry James, but I just can’t watch such videos. To see a beautiful innocent dog being brutally shot to death by a pig of a cop just tears me up.
Can’t do it.
I just can’t forget the images. They’d cause me pain for years.
Several of the more unhinged responses to my letter hope that I never need to call the police in an emergency, so let’s examine the thinking behind that assertion.
First, the police have no legal duty to protect you, or anyone else – and that has been repeatedly confirmed by the Supreme Court (DeShaney v. Winnebago County, Castle Rock v. Gonzales, et al). They have no responsibility even to try to protect you. This prompts the obvious question: what is the point of the police?
Good question.
Second, the entire assumption that the police are even capable of protecting you is laughable. So somebody just kicked in your door and is pointing a gun at your wife. Are you really supposed to ask the criminal to wait a minute while you make a phone call? And have a seat while we wait for the cavalry to arrive? Perhaps he’d like a cup of tea while we’re waiting….
Let’s tell the truth. Cops are people who write down words on pieces of paper after you’ve been robbed, raped, burgled, assaulted, or murdered. Or your family has. That’s the truth.
If you want protection, buy a 45.
Cops are useless.
I think it is time it is time we consider reparations for dogs, cats (and other animals) who, as we all know, have less rights than slaves, and besides are all unable to speak for themselves. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled that they are “persons” but I expect that if we packed it sufficiently with the right virtue-signaling people, they would have no trouble finding that most dogs and cats are at least as virtuous as corporations (and just for a dig at the corporate right to free speech, corporations cannot speak for themselves either, since they are an abstraction, and must speak through some officer, unlike dogs and cats, which can at least bark or meow). Instead of BLM, we can have DCLM, which will likely raise a lot of money with that logo because the progressive advocates will all suppose it stands for the DC victims rather than Dogs and Cats. Speaking for myself (just to change the subject) I have been entirely satisfied with the Greensboro police for as long as I have lived here (but it has only been 46 years, so the true natives, like my wife, who was born here, doubtless have mor salient comments…).
Like other comments, Mr. Morris should call a counselor if his house gets broken into, if he gets in a traffic accident, or needs any law enforcement assistance. I personally know of an officer who several years ago was bitten by a dog in the hand and he was not able to work as an officer as it did some much damage.
Per Wikipedia:
Main article: List of fatal dog attacks
Fatal dog attacks in the United States cause the deaths of about 30 – 50 people in the US each year,[1] and the number of deaths from dog attacks appears to be increasing.[2] Around 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year, resulting in the hospitalization of 6,000 to 13,000 people each year in the United States (2005).[2] A 2018 literature review with meta-analysis by breed, focusing on dog bite injuries to the face, head and neck.
Mr. Morris – please know the facts of the case before labeling all Law Enforcement.
Spare me your supercilious sanctimony, David. I’ve been knocking on doors – and encountering dogs – for over 30 years. I know what I’m talking about.
And I’m not even a big ‘brave’ law enforcement officer with a gun…
I think overall, most policemen are good. My Dad was a career policeman here in Greensboro, way back when, and served as a positive example to his fellow officers.
But, like with any organization, there are bad apples who will spoil it for the entire bunch. My dad, just like any other fine example of the law enforcement community, was even tempered, and never took anything that happened to him on the job, personally. If someone called him a derogatory name, he simply nodded his head and smiled, while telling them “you don’t even know my mother.” He never brought the job home with him, except for many funny stories. He never took out anything job related on my mother or me. We all saw him as Superman, the ultimate protector.
It seems like as time goes on, and and recruitment standards drop, more and more power hungry, or unstable people, are now wearing a badge and sidearm. The solution to cleaning up this mess is a multi-pronged one:
– strengthen recruitment standards to get better quality people into the uniform
– city and town councils need to do a better job of backing their police officers when they’re called upon to uphold the law by making difficult, split second decisions.
– improve training so that when those split second decisions need to be made, there will be higher confidence that the correct decisions were made.
– weed out the bad apples who shouldn’t have made it through recruitment screening, to preserve the integrity of each police department.
Growing up, I was always proud to tell people “my Daddy is a policeman!” I’m still proud of the job he did, and the example he set for not only his fellow officers, but for me as well.
I agree with you, Tom. There are indeed some good and decent cops out there but there seem to be fewer and fewer of them. Maybe I’ve been unlucky but the ones I’ve encountered have been real jerks, especially the Highway Patrol narcissists.
So different to the British cops who’s simply admonish me with a cheerful “Slow down, son!” before letting me go…
Mr. Morris-Why were you breaking the law? Police resources could have been better used instead of stopping a law breaker?
Because I was exceeding the posted Speed Limit.
But then , I’m sure an insufferable prig like you never drives above the posted Speed Limit…. Right?
——-
You are clearly a self-righteous wanker.
These past few years, with the whole “Defund the Police” movement, and the lack of any professional support from local politicians, have driven out most of the better officers. No job is worth what they’ve been going through lately. It’s a thankless job – they’re damned if they do their job, and they’re damned if they don’t.
A lot of it depends on locale, and their respective leadership. I haven’t had much interaction with the Highway Patrol, except for one roadblock a few years back – they were really good natured and had a great sense of humor. I have been pulled over for speeding several times (Archdale and Boone) and received verbal warnings all three times. I showed them the respect their badge deserves and they, in return, respected me, and were really good natured about the stops. They were more concerned that I slow down and drive safer than they were about adding another notch to their “ticket quota”.
Thomasville was different matter – about 25 years ago, I was pulled over by a shorter officer with a Napoleon complex. He approached me with his chest all stuck out, a little short, stubby cigar in his mouth, trying to trip me up, wanting to know why someone would have called them saying I was transporting drugs. I laughed and explained I was on my home from a 12 hour shift at work, and night school, and had nothing to do with drugs. Other than wasting my time, it was pretty uneventful, but he was anything but respectful.
My wife tells me that I have an honest looking face – I don’t know…
You’ve been lucky. I have not.
Well said.
Thank you Tom for relating your life story with your father as a policeman. The solutions you enumerate are valid. If only the public would take the initiative to see the whole picture and take some responsibility of their own. We are living in a very complex world with more problems than most people can or will take the time to see their own part in a lot of it. This is a part of the divisiveness.
A very similar event happened in Loraine, Ohio early July with Dixie, a friendly lab/golden mix cheerfully running toward an officer. The video for the weak of heart is fuzzed out, another video, if you care to look, you can see Dixie yelping after being shot straight on, suffering, running and then dragging herself away as the officer continues to unload. Dixie drags herself out of the road, crying and dying. Hard to watch and it will haunt you. If police officers are such sissies that they are afraid of nonaggressive dogs and can’t tell a friendly from a serious attack, plus have such a quick trigger finger, (his gun should have been holstered with several people around) AND continue firing while the dog is running away, they need to be in another line of work. Wayne, If I feel I am in danger, I am happy to have my dog(s) with me. It takes 15-30 minutes for the sheriff to show up. Dog is right there with me. No one nefarious messes with people walking dogs. Too messy for them.
I couldn’t bring myself to watch such a horrific event Cheryl, but you’re right that law enforcement attracts a certain type of personality. They’re often people with a chip on their shoulder and/or bullies who are just closet cowards – or sissies, as you put it so perfectly.
I’ve been walking up to front doors for over 30 years, without a gun, a badge, or a uniform. And I’ve been bitten once.
What are they so afraid of? It’s just a dog.
—————————
PS I’m more wary of the humans. I’ve had a gun drawn on me several times.
Mr. Morris – do tell- why were the gun(s) drawn on you? Was it your location, time of night, some place where most people do not go, suspicious activity draw attention to you, neighborhood were you may have been looking suspicious ( in people’s windows ), what are you selling door to door?
Are you related to Councilwoman Hightower, Wells, Johnson and the num*-nuts City manager?
Yes there are a few bad cops, most do a fantastic job with the lack of support from our worthless city council. You obviously have had more than a few reunions ( yes reunions) with the police and probably Sheriff Deputies. Ever been housed on C or D block?
If you start acting appropriately in public I bet you would not have to ever meet an officer in an unfavorable way. Possible you could have an educated discussion about the troubles you have had and how you are bettering yourself and the community you live in?
I wish you success in whatever you are legally selling and wish you could redirect your anger to a more positive outcome for the community you live in.
My, my, aren’t you a pompous ass?
The guns that were drawn on me were drawn when I complied with the homeowner’s yelled instruction to “Come on in…”. In each instance they were obviously expecting their neighbor or friend to enter, and were taken aback when a complete stranger opened their door and walked in. I don’t do that any more.
And your assumptions about me could not be more wrong. My only interactions with law enforcement have been as a result of exceeding the absurdly low speed limits, and failing to wear my seat belt (do they really expect me to buckle & unbuckle at every driveway?).
I have bettered my community by immigrating here, always being in LEGAL status, never illegal, starting a small business, paying my taxes, never breaking the law except for previously mentioned infractions, raising a family, seeing them through college (I didn’t pay because both boys won “free ride scholarships”) and living the American Dream’
That good enough for you, buddy..?
Is there a witness?
As this thread runs out of steam, I thought I’d share a couple of tips that might be useful to someone one day.
* Don’t worry about Rottweilers, Dobermans or Pit Bulls. They’re all pussies (unless they’ve been trained to be aggressive). By far the most aggressive and violent breed is the German Shepherd. They’re really hostile to strangers, and they will do you real damage if they get the chance. Also be aware that if you’re encountering two or more dogs, the danger rises exponentially. They wind each other up in an escalating frenzy. A single dog can always be pacified, but 2 dogs are almost impossible to becalm.
* If you’re in the country and the homeowners yell for you to come in, NEVER do. Just yell back something unintelligible to let them know that there is someone there. Then they have to get off their ass and answer the door. And smile.
* Always glean as much information as you can. Is the car tag current? Yard tidy? Walk past the front of the car and if you feel warmth from the radiator grille, they’re at home. It all helps you to get an idea of who you’re about to meet before they even open the door.
And take care if you’re out there knocking on doors for politicians, churches, or sales. About 10% of the adult US population is mentally ill in some way (really). I come across them all the time. You’re on their property, so discretion is always the better part of valour.
It’s always sensible to develop situational awareness, but there’s nothing to be afraid of so long as you’re engaging in legal and ethical activity.
Not even the puppies.
Good luck.