rules for police??

Question

Don't police have rules they have to follow on when they can or cannot fire their weapons? I was at my in-laws house this weekend and their busy body neighbor called 911 when her 11 year old came home and claimed to be bit by a dog. We heard noise outside and went out to find out what was going on. The boy's mom came over and told us it was no big deal and that the kid didn't have any marks on him. The next thing we know the neighborhood is crawling with cops. They are running through yards and shinning lights at the houses. Then they fired their guns at a dog! In a residential neighborhood! We had our 5 month old in the house! After a little while the boy's mom came back and claimed that they boy had been bitten and was bleeding. Then the next day in the paper it claimed that pitbulls had attacked the kid and he had to go to the emergancy room. It all sounds like this woman was trying to create drama. But ins't it against the rules for a cop to fire a gun in that situation?

Well, I seriously doubt the dog/dogs in question are pitbulls. Firstly, my inlaws (who have lived there for years and walk their mini poodle daily) have never seen a pitbull in the area. Secondly, no dog was actually shot or captured...they don't know where the bullets landed (which is why I'm concerned about them shooting within range of my family), and they have no dog to blame this on. Third, I heard dogs barking around the time of the incedent. It sounded much more like a terrior barking than a pitbull. It looks to me like this situation got out of hand and now people are trying to cover their butts with a pitbull story. We saw officers chasing a bunny through my in-laws backyard....do bunnies resemble pitbulls???

Answer 1

If no one's life was in danger, including the officer's, then the right response is to call animal control and let them deal with it. If the officer was threatened by the dog, and Pit Bulls are dangerous, then the officer had the right to fire. There will be a review by the police dept to determine if the firing was within guidelines. If not closed to the public attend. If it is closed find out how you can submit a written statement to the hearing board.

Answer 2

I am a dog lover, but if I was an officer and a dog that allegedly bit someone was bearing down on me, I would probably shoot too.

You mention that you are in a residential neighborhood and that you have an infant in the house...would you be happy if there was a violent dog running around.

See now if the cop had not shot the dog and someone else was attacked, I am sure you would (or some would) be complaining that the police don't do enough.

Perhaps the woman was being overly dramatic, but when responding to a call like that, the police hardly have the time to saunter over to her house and make a decision on whether it is critical enough injuries to shoot a dog, if and when the time comes.

The police get plenty of critical thinking training and firearms training and are well aware of when they should or should not shoot. (and you know what....this may shock some...they are human!!!)

Answer 3

I would really like to know the rest of this story, before commenting... but here goes.

If you are attacked by a dog that has already proven itself vicious, you can shoot it.

And what usually happens is: the person calling (like your neighbor) probably called 9-1-1 screaming that the dog was trying to kill her child. Well, the officers have to go with the information they receive from dispatch, and so they go in loaded for bear so-to-speak.
OK - so the dogs (you said pit bulls - plural, yes?) see all of these uniformed and excited officers, and immediately go into attack mode, and maybe even try to attack an officer.
If a pit-bull bites you, they do not let go, they have a bite that is close to 35lbs psi, which will break your arm, or tear a huge chunk out of your leg, and they are able to move their jaws even while holding on. A very painful bite, indeed.
So a dog, or maybe more than one dog rushes the officers, and they defend themselves by killing the dog or dogs involved. It is completely justified.

Answer 4

Wow, another question from someone who thinks they know how to do an officers job better then a trained officer. I wonder if this person tells their doctor how to perform their surgery before the doctor actually does it? I'm guessing you let the doctor do his/her job without any opinion.

An officer that is threatened by an animal that is capable of ripping him apart is going to shoot it. And he/she will do it not only for their own protection, but to protect the people who live in the area. Based on the info provided, I would say write your local PD a letter of appreciation for their prompt response making your neighborhood safer.

Answer 5

You see this is what is wrong with people. IF you never have put on a police uniform, you will never understand police work. I bet the dogs were going to bite the officers and in self defense or defense of another, they can shoot the dog. you also mentioned pit bulls and pit bulls can be mean and tear you up. get the facts right before you make a conclusion about the whole situation

Answer 6

there are rules when they shoot and kill someone... usually if they shoot and kill someone there is an investigation into whether it was their only choice... dogs are different.. they don't have the same comprehension as a person.. you can't talk a dog into not attacking.. some dogs are raised to fight and won't back down for anything.. so a Police Officer can shoot an animal with no problems afterwards

Answer 7

No if they thought that other people was in danger from this dog they had the right to shoot the dog. But they should have checked to see if anyone or anything was in danger from being hit by the bullet if he missed the dog.

Answer 8

just watch the TV show cops and you will see what evil people get mixed in with the honest hard working police..

To many, being a cop is a license to beat people up and steal their property.

Never shoot a cop in the chest.

Answer 9

not in dekalb county Georgia where thier have been 13 peoples kill because of these idiot trigger happy cops in the last month

Answer 10

cops want to prove that they are macho so they use there gun instead of there brain.