Trigger-happy in North Toledo

Does not make you trigger happy. To find out who is trigger happy read NYC story of Sean Bell. Some stupid judge this morning ruled 50 shots fired was justified and not excessive.

I grew up in the metro NYC area and there have been reports, documented, over the years about excessive response to some events. Bedford Stuyvesant went up in flames, about excessive response from the NYC PD.

"Seventeen months to the day since two bullets from a swarm of 50 fired by the police killed Sean Bell, the verdict in the case against three detectives arrives about 9 a.m. on Friday, with the judge’s decision sure to set off an outcry no matter what it is.

It is rare to know far in advance the exact date and time of a courtroom verdict, but the timing of this one was announced on April 14 by Justice Arthur J. Cooperman of State Supreme Court, who heard testimony in the case over seven weeks without a jury. Some lawyers not involved in the case said the detectives’ decision to waive a jury trial was a risky legal strategy.

The judge gave himself almost two weeks to render a verdict, and the wait has promised to bring beyond-capacity turnout to the courtroom in Queens where the case was heard.

Some see the case as far-reaching in its possible ramifications on the conduct of the city’s police officers during undercover operations or in those moments when they must decide whether to shoot at a suspect.

Outside the courtroom and around the city, the police have tried to anticipate any type of reaction to the verdict, an effort that has been done more out of municipal habit than as a response to any direct threat of unrest. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/nyregion/25bell.html?em&ex=1209268800&...

I've been no fan of the Blade's but that was a well written editorial.

This is just another minor incident for the TPD, and having Skeldon the dog killer on hand would have provided the pig with a government cheerleader. When the residents of Toledo decide they've had enough of fascist regimes and want a change, maybe a few independents will be elected and something good can come out of the Mayor's office. Until then, Toledo is stuck with a city council full of graft, an psychotic mayor and jack booted thugs for police.

Kateb,
Regarding the dog-shot editorial, my guess would be Rose Russell.

Very good bluster, but you've really added nothing to this discussion. "Fascist regimes," "psychotic mayor" and "jack booted thugs for police" are good expressions about your thoughts, which appear to be helter-skelter anger about ordinary life in ordinary Toledo. Most amusing, though, is your proposed solution of electing "a few independents" rather than reconsidering the form of municipal government we have now. You come across as someone who'd rather bitch and moan than think about, and suggest, how our system of 'self-governance' could be improved upon. If you think Toledoans 'have had enough of fascist regimes and want a change,' then by all means get out there and lead the people's revolution. But I think you're the type who prefers to sit back, sock down a beer, and merely bitch about the way things are.

Don't look now, but you're being ignored. Sorry about the bruised ego.

I totally agree with the part of the editorial that says if Skeldon didn't have his people out doing that door to door BS then they would have been available to take care of this as they should have been.

I also think its really easy to sit at home and write an editorial about how you think the cops should have done. The officer probably didn't have the benefit of the neighbors opinions about what a nice dog it was and how gentle it was.
I think its entirely possible that the officer felt the dog was approaching him in an aggressive manner and had every right (as would anyone when approached by an aggressive animal) to protect himself.

The other day it was nice enough to walk to school to pick up my son and as I passed a home a large dog jumped up and came at me, with a very aggressive growl I stopped immediately and his owner called to him to stop and then said to me "He just wanted to play". I've seen a lot of dogs run up to someone wanting to play and never heard them growl like that in doing so.

I'm still convinced that dog came at me aggressively not playfully, so whos to say that that boxer didn't apprach that officer aggressively?

It was my understanding that it was a puppy. I am afraid of dogs and puppies too because I was nipped by a dog when I was a child. However, a big, ole, mouthy policeman with a gun and a puppy ain't a fair fight. I am sure there were other things that could have been done besides shooting the puppy three times especially in an area where people were present including children.

If vicious dogs are a gigantic problem as portrayed by Skeldon then policeman need to be trained on what to do when approached by a "vicious" dog and shooting it three times would be the last resort, not the first.

Mailmen and women seem to know what to do on a daily basis and their job is not to protect and serve (like policemen and women) but to deliver the mail.

The big difference here is that you didn't pull your pistol out and kill the dog. Had you done so, you would have been arrested, charged, indicted, tried and likely found guilty of:
1 - CCW violation, unless you have a CCW license. Do you?
2 - Discharge of a firearm within city limits.
3 - Reckless endangerment (you might have missed the dog and killed a family of five)
4 - Killing a domestic animal, which is a felony.
5 - Resisting arrest.
6 - Obstruction of justice.
7 - Interfering with a police officer conducting official business.

Along with a host of other charges I can't even imagine. Your house would be searched by a SWAT team using a no-knock warrant. Your gun collection would be confiscated for 'safe keeping' along with any cash the JBTs might find. It's likely your son would be placed in foster care until the TPD could get everything sorted out. Naturally, this will be best for your son because you are now a violent gun owning felon.

You and people like you will dismiss my scenario as the rantings of an early morning drunk. The things I describe don't happen, at least not to OhioKat and friends. Think again.

The officer who killed this family's dog for no reason at all other than he could do it and get away with it will never have to face the situation I described above. The officers of the TPD are above the law and they know it. They will never admit a mistake, nor admit that they are wrong about anything. You don't have to take my word for it. Go ask a few poor people about abuse. Go ask a few minorities.

Madjack, I'm not dismissing anything really, although I do think that yours seems to be a bit over the top.
Purnhrt, a one year old dog is hardly a cuddly little "puppy". He was big enough the person who called the cops described him as large.
The officer was called to the area because of a "complaint that a large boxer had escaped from a nearby yard in the 500 block of Hudson and was running free in the back yard at the Mulberry address."
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/NEWS03/30...

I understand your opinion and can see how it could very well be what happened but I also happen to think that it's entirely possible that my post is closer to the truth.

I know that there are bad cops out there but I also think that there are good ones also, that are doing their jobs the best that they can.

Oh, and I wouldn't have shot that dog because I don't have a gun. He could have injured me badly. He wasn't chained or inside a fence. Playful or not he should have been.