Ex-Cop James P. Gaffney Says Officers Need To Stop Killing Dogs By Andy Kossak, Sat, July 13, 2013 James P. Gaffney, who served with the metro-New York police department for 25 years, told officers to stop shooting dogs, in an article he wrote for Law Enforcement Today magazine. Gaffney noted that it’s natural for a dog to move to protect its owner when it senses danger, and that police are supposed to use better judgment, lest they incite an attack and then declare it was self-defense. It is illegal for an officer to kill a dog unless they have already taken other reasonable actions to stop a so-called aggressive dog, such as firing the gun into the air. The article comes at a time when there have been a number of reports in recent months of cops shooting family dogs who they believe are becoming aggressive, but Gaffney warns officers to be careful. Gaffney writes that officers need to be concerned about the possibility of a lawsuit being filed if an officer is involved in a dog shooting! Many in society these days consider their dogs as valued family members rather than simply the family pet. In fact, the preferred nomenclature is “canine companion” vs. pet these days. This perspective is a trend emerging in the federal circuit courts of appeal. ASPCA has worked since 1874 to increase public awareness of the important role that animals fill. It is with that thought in mind officers need to understand protections have been in place for approximately 138 years against acts of cruelty to animals. And now the higher courts are ruling the shooting of a dog by a police officer is a seizure pursuant to the Fourth Amendment. Sources: MSN, Law Enforcement Today opposingviews/i/society/animal-rights/ex-cop-james-p-gaffney-says-officers-need-stop-killing-dogs Jodi Preis Bless the Bullys Education...Awareness...Advocacy Because preaching to the choir makes a small church.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 18:58:32 +0000
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