(SeaTac News, November 12, 2010)
By Keith Daigle
2010-11-09
On Sunday Noember 7 Des Moines [Seattle] police officers responding to a roaming dog call, chased Rosie, a 200- lb. Newfoundland, into Lora Perry’s backyard where police officers shot and killed the dog.
“It almost seemed like it was a game to them,” Perry said, referring to the four officers, including a police sergeant, who responded to the call. She said the officer who shot Rosie had no remorse, and treated it like a challenge, saying an officer said, ‘I haven’t had one that big before.’
Perry is inviting anyone who wants to place flowers along the fence where Rosie was shot to bring them to 26852 16th Ave. S.
An incident review is being done to determine whether the officer’s actions were justified or not. After the incident review there will be a shooting review. Des Moines Police Sgt. Bob Collins said the officer felt lethal force was justified based on the dog’s previous aggressive actions.
“He believed it was the step he needed to take,” Collins said.
The officers on the scene tried to find the owner of the dog before attempting to apprehend it, Collins said. The dog did not have a collar on, and when neighbors asked a neighbor if they knew the dog they said they did not.
Police were also in touch with Des Moines Animal Control Officer Jan Magnuson, who was off duty, sending her a cell phone picture of the dog to see if she knew the animal and its owners. She said she did not.
According to the police report, when the police tried to capture Rosie with a catch pull, she would charge toward them quickly and retreat, barking and showing her teeth.
Officers then tased Rosie, who then ran away down the street. Officers continued to follow the dog, tasing her again with no effect.
Rosie then ran into Perry’s backyard and hid in the bushes. Perry said Rosie did not move from her position from the moment she noticed her to when police shot her.
Before police arrived Perry said her little dog was running around the large yard, searching for Rosie. Perry said at no point was Rosie aggressive to either Perry or her dog.
“(Rosie) was cornered and frozen and it did not move the entire time,” Perry said. “The dog was a gentle dog, it didn’t do anything wrong.”
Perry said her gate was open for a brief period, allowing Rosie to get in. She said the dog was in her backyard for at least 20 minutes before police showed up. By the time police came to the house the gate was closed, locking Rosie in.
Police officers came to her door asking if she had seen the dog they had been chasing. After officers came into the backyard they asked Lora to stay inside with her kids. Both Perry and Sgt. Collins say no attempt was made at that point to capture Rosie.
Perry said about a minute after police came into her backyard a police officer drew his firearm and shot Rosie four times.
“I could hear the dog crying and whining after the first shot went off,” Perry said. She said after the first shot she closed her eyes. “It was quick, they already had their mind set on what they were going to do,” Perry said. “Their main concern was shooting the dog.”
Perry said after the incident one police officer came into her house giggling about shooting the dog.
“I know without a doubt in my mind this is not what they should have done.”
A shooting review is not automatically conducted after an officer discharges their firearm at an animal, Collins said. Interim Des Moines Police Chief John O’Leary ordered the review, Collins said.
“It is a sad outcome,” Collins said. “We are public servant and we understand that there is going to be public accountability.
“Situations like this can deteriorate public trust.”
* * * * * * * * * *
In point of fact, Rosie was a mere 115 pounds, and the eyewitness account makes absolutely clear that she posed no threat to anyone at the time the cops shot her four times while she cowered in the bushes of a fenced in yard of a neighbor.
A memorial service will be held for Rosie on Sunday, November 14.
Hopefully, the cops and their supervisors will be prosecuted for their barbaric actions.
13 comments:
This is very sad and disturbing news.
“Animal abuse is one of the four indicators that the F.B.I. profilers use to asses future violent behavior, so I don’t see why we should not use it too,” said Diana S. Urban, a Democratic state representative in Connecticut who sponsored a bill mandating that animal control workers and child welfare workers cross-report suspected animal, child or domestic abuse."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/us/18animal.html
We're trying to help get justice for Rosie too... http://www.pups-seeking-homes.com/blog/home/entry/justice_for_rosie_the_newfie
Poor scared baby. SO UNBELIEVABLY SAD. :( Begs the question, how do these officers treat human 'suspects'?
The cop that slughtered this poor animal is Michael Graddon, and this is where he lives.
12107 258th Avenue Ct E
Buckley, WA 98321-9009.
Let him face the public that he is payed to serve
Why would you allow someone to post an officers address? I was interested until I saw that.
I continue to hear bout is story and hear from Newfoundland owners that newfs are "gentle giants" yet upon reading much information from breed websites I see over and over that when faced with a threat newfs will protect themselves, their family, or their property. Police rarely approach any situation in a non-confrontational fashion. They are trained and conditioned to always take a dominant stance and to a dog that could easily be seen as a threat. I think, more than anything else, this was a case where the dog perceived a threat and protected its self by displaying low level aggressive actions that were misinterpreted by police officers who rarely receive training in how to approach a strange dog or how to read dog body language to ascertain motivation behind actions. It is terribly sad that this tragedy occurred but I don't believe the police intentionally committed a malicious act for their own entertainment.
I wish police departments everywhere could work with qualified trainers/behaviorists and experienced animal control workers to receive training in how to deal wit loose dogs and that the public would donate to such a program. Unfortunately, misunderstanding and judgement seem to run rampant in both our public eye and the police force. Through education and effort, we would not have to see so many dogs wrongfully killed. To Rosie's family, I am so sorry for your loss. One cannot imagine the pain this horrible experience has caused for you.
A Newfoundland who protects themselves and their property? You seriously must be kidding? This is NOT the nature of a Newfoundland and it has been said time and time again to prospective new owners that these dogs are NOT watchdogs, never will be, and to look elsewhere if that is a trait that a person wantsin a dog.
The only way a Newfoundland would assist as a watch dog, is when a robber will slip on the dog drool, break his leg, pass out from the pain and the police will find the robber where he fell.
The police in and around the Seattle area seem to take great delight in shooting the harmless..both people and animals.
I've had a Newfie for 10 years and I can tell you that this breed is incapable of showing aggression. these officers were wrong. I find their behavior disturbing. Who shoots a cowering animal? I'm so sorry for Rosie and her family. This story breaks my heart.
I just signed the Petition for Rosie that I was forwarded on face book. I am so sorry for your loss and pray that justice is served.
I think you need to read more about what the police were recorded saying... Within the first 10 minutes of showing up to the scene they were already talking about shooting her! And if you knew anything about mewfoundlands you would know they didn't get the nickname gentle giants for nothing!
At some point we must have a voice that is loud enough and strong enough to be heard in the halls of all Law Enforcement offices that we will not accept the killing of companion animals as SOP. There was a great article in one of the Seattle papers right after Rosie was murdered--how law enforcement must be trained to handle animals without deadly force. UPS does it--the Postal Service doesn't shoot dogs.
I am terrified for my big ambling Labrador who is only weighs a little less than Rosie. I won't say we live in a Police State, but when will the public have a voice in how these policemen behave with the public's pets
Hola bloguer@: veo que tienes un blog maravilloso, con muy buenos posts.
Quisiera compartir contigo y tus seguidores más información interesante sobre la raza de perro Terranova (Newfoundland) y un video de imágenes del Terranova.
Espero que te guste mi blog de "Perros y Gatos" y dejame un comentario si te apetece.
Un saludos desde España
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