Police officer who shot cattle dog indicted

[Shakou]

Thoughts?

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Rains...258648881.html





RAINS COUNTY — A grand jury has indicted a former Rains County deputy on an animal cruelty charge over the controversial shooting of a family’s dog last month.
Jerrod Dooley, 32, has been charged with a state jail felony, punishable by up to two years behind bars. Dooley was fired last month within days of the shooting that sparked a national furor after the dog’s owner went public with his story.
"This is clearly a political knee jerk reaction by the DA in Rains County and there’s no chance that this case will stand up in court," said Pete Schulte, Dooleys' attorney. "It’s a legal impossibility because he was acting within the scope of his employment as a public servant. We look forward to our day in court.â€
He added that he was told that he would be provided an opportunity to present information to the grand jury and he’s disappointed that didn't occur.
"They indicted him within two weeks," Schulte said. "That never happens."
In a tearful interview last month, Dooley tried to explain why he shot the 2-year-old blue heeler named Candy.

"I tried, but I didn't think I could get away from her," he said haltingly. “I told her to 'get back,' she wouldn't get back ... and I fired two shots."
Dooley described himself as a dog lover and said he previously worked for the SPCA.

On April 19, Dooley responded to a burglary call at a farm in Point, Texas. Middleton had called the sheriff’s department several hours earlier to report a break-in.
Dooley has said that when he first arrived, the dog wasn't acting aggressive, but that when he got out of his squad car the dog came at him and he had to shoot her.

Dash cam video shows Candy barking and then jumping out of the truck out of the camera’s view. The actual shooting isn't seen on the video.
The video shows Dooley telling Middleton that he shot the dog.
"Partner, you're about to be upset, but your dog charged me and I had to shoot it," he said.

"My God, no! No! No! No!" Middleton screams.

"Calm down! Calm down!" Dooley tells him.

Middleton has said that the bullet struck her in the back of her head and came out one of the dog’s eyes. He also said the dog wouldn't have survived so to relieve her suffering, he put her head in a bucket of water.
"I did the unimaginable, but it had to be done so she could go home," he told News 8 last month.

Candy’s death sparked a national furor after Middleton took to social media to tell his story and released a video. The video shows other officers mugging for the camera shortly after the shooting.
Dooley, who's a single father, said he and his son have received death threats.

“I can’t go to the grocery store without being recognized, pointed at, laughed at," Dooley said. "Can't pay my water bill without hearing my name, saying 'There's the sorry cop that killed the dog.'"
Dooley said during the interview that he wishes things had turned out differently.

“I hear her yelp every night before I go to bed,†he said. There's probably not a minute that goes by that I don't think about it. I'd give anything to walk up to him, hug his neck, try to make his pain go away. I know I'll never get that chance."

 

[Fran101]

Good.

I've read just about enough stories about cops shooting dogs. This is about more than self-defense, you don't need a GUN to protect you from every dog and far too many obviously non-aggressive animals are being shot by untrained trigger happy idiots like this crying bafoon there need to be consequences.

It's about more than just dogs, it's about cops who are so **** trigger happy they don't even think before using their most powerful weapon to take a life. They go straight for the gun like it's their only option and it's wrong.

I'm so sick of reading stories of cops misusing their weapons. Kids, College students stranded and knocking on someone's door, unarmed people, dogs, family pets, family members...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

He shot that dog in his own home in the back of the head and left it to die with it's crying owners.

His job is to serve and protect and he did neither. Screw him.

 

[Shakou]

The thing that gets me is he didn't just shoot a dog for stupid reasons. He shot her, but refused to shoot her again to put her out of her misery. The bullet went into the back of her head and exited through her eye. She was left flopping around on the ground screaming in agony while the poor owner begged the cop to end it, and when he refused, the owner had to drown her in a bucket of water. THAT is worth jail time to me to say the least.

I hope this is the beginning of the end and cops will think twice before pointing guns at a barking dog.

 

[Dogdragoness]

Thoughts?

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Rains...258648881.html





RAINS COUNTY — A grand jury has indicted a former Rains County deputy on an animal cruelty charge over the controversial shooting of a family’s dog last month.
Jerrod Dooley, 32, has been charged with a state jail felony, punishable by up to two years behind bars. Dooley was fired last month within days of the shooting that sparked a national furor after the dog’s owner went public with his story.
"This is clearly a political knee jerk reaction by the DA in Rains County and there’s no chance that this case will stand up in court," said Pete Schulte, Dooleys' attorney. "It’s a legal impossibility because he was acting within the scope of his employment as a public servant. We look forward to our day in court.â€
He added that he was told that he would be provided an opportunity to present information to the grand jury and he’s disappointed that didn't occur.
"They indicted him within two weeks," Schulte said. "That never happens."
In a tearful interview last month, Dooley tried to explain why he shot the 2-year-old blue heeler named Candy.

"I tried, but I didn't think I could get away from her," he said haltingly. “I told her to 'get back,' she wouldn't get back ... and I fired two shots."
Dooley described himself as a dog lover and said he previously worked for the SPCA.

On April 19, Dooley responded to a burglary call at a farm in Point, Texas. Middleton had called the sheriff’s department several hours earlier to report a break-in.
Dooley has said that when he first arrived, the dog wasn't acting aggressive, but that when he got out of his squad car the dog came at him and he had to shoot her.

Dash cam video shows Candy barking and then jumping out of the truck out of the camera’s view. The actual shooting isn't seen on the video.
The video shows Dooley telling Middleton that he shot the dog.
"Partner, you're about to be upset, but your dog charged me and I had to shoot it," he said.

"My God, no! No! No! No!" Middleton screams.

"Calm down! Calm down!" Dooley tells him.

Middleton has said that the bullet struck her in the back of her head and came out one of the dog’s eyes. He also said the dog wouldn't have survived so to relieve her suffering, he put her head in a bucket of water.
"I did the unimaginable, but it had to be done so she could go home," he told News 8 last month.

Candy’s death sparked a national furor after Middleton took to social media to tell his story and released a video. The video shows other officers mugging for the camera shortly after the shooting.
Dooley, who's a single father, said he and his son have received death threats.

“I can’t go to the grocery store without being recognized, pointed at, laughed at," Dooley said. "Can't pay my water bill without hearing my name, saying 'There's the sorry cop that killed the dog.'"
Dooley said during the interview that he wishes things had turned out differently.

“I hear her yelp every night before I go to bed,†he said. There's probably not a minute that goes by that I don't think about it. I'd give anything to walk up to him, hug his neck, try to make his pain go away. I know I'll never get that chance."

What was that again about how in conservative states a cop shooting a dog won't get what he deserves? We love our dogs here too, people. This is why If in have a burglary call I will be handling I it with on my own instead of calling the cops.

I am so glad he is being publicly ridiculed, he deserves it, the pig.

 

[*blackrose]

Good.

I've read just about enough stories about cops shooting dogs. This is about more than self-defense, you don't need a GUN to protect you from every dog and far too many obviously non-aggressive animals are being shot by untrained trigger happy idiots like this crying bafoon there need to be consequences.

It's about more than just dogs, it's about cops who are so **** trigger happy they don't even think before using their most powerful weapon to take a life. They go straight for the gun like it's their only option and it's wrong.

I'm so sick of reading stories of cops misusing their weapons. Kids, College students stranded and knocking on someone's door, unarmed people, dogs, family pets, family members...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

He shot that dog in his own home in the back of the head and left it to die with it's crying owners.

His job is to serve and protect and he did neither. Screw him.

This. I mean....how many people have been charged by a dog? Even on here? I can't even Count the number of times I've been out walking my dogs and had another dog charge me. Did the dogs need shot? No. How many delivery men and women have to deal with charging dogs? And how many of these delivery people are shooting dogs? I mean, come on.

Just because a dog charges aggressively, unless it is a REALLY pissed off dog...is there no way to subdue it another way? Really? Like, I don't know...wait for the freaking owner to come collect their dog?

And like someone else said - if you're going to use your gun, use it correctly. Put the animal out of its misery after you botched the first shot.

 

[Xandra]

Totally agree with Shakou and Fran.

It's not just about a dog dying.

It's about arrogant cops who feel that just because they signed up for a risky job they are entitled to protect themselves from any threat, no matter what the cost to the people they are supposed to serve and protect. I've been bitten by dogs, it's not nice. But 9/10 times it's not the end of the world when it's by a medium size dog and you're an able-bodied grown man in an upright position. If it's a bad bite, maybe you have to get some stitches, some antibiotics... deal with it. You aren't that important. You dont' get to neutralize every small potential threat with deadly force just because you're an authority figure. The rest of the population successfully deals with this stuff on a daily basis without using a gun, so can you.

This story is particularly asinine as the cop was responding to a ****ing home owner reported burglary. Not even an urgent burglary in process, but a ****ing "hey come by to affirm our place was broken into for insurance/property retrieval purposes." And he marched out of his ****ing car and killed their animal because it scared him by acting...normally.

Even if he had to get out of his car (and if you're a stranger and there's a dog barking at you just stay in the car and call the people you're trying to visit, FFS), this was a cattle dog, not a 120 lb Presa Canario. Here is how big she was:

So he shoots their dog (according to the necropsy, in the back of the head) he then sits in his car like a pussy, refuses to help the people whose dog he's just maimed and waits while they drown her in a bucket of water.

How WONDERFUL that he's been fired and is facing charges.

 

[Shakou]

I watched the dash cam video and it's heart wrenching. The screams coming from the dog sound almost identical to the noises Ma'ii has made the few times he's gotten hurt over the years. It really hits close to home. And then the poor owner.... I've seen videos similar in the past, and they are all horrible, but this one is by far the worst.

 

[Grab]

She was also shot in the back of the head...meaning she was facing away from the officer. Officers need to stop reacting to everything with their weapons.

 

[crazedACD]

It's about arrogant cops who feel that just because they signed up for a risky job they are entitled to protect themselves from any threat, no matter what the cost to the people they are supposed to serve and protect. I've been bitten by dogs, it's not nice. But 9/10 times it's not the end of the world when it's by a medium size dog and you're an able-bodied grown man in an upright position. If it's a bad bite, maybe you have to get some stitches, some antibiotics... deal with it. You aren't that important. You dont' get to neutralize every small potential threat with deadly force just because you're an authority figure. The rest of the population successfully deals with this stuff on a daily basis without using a gun, so can you.

I agree.

I did watch the video, and from what I can see, I might tend to begrudgingly say MAYBE it was a smidge warranted. A charging/barking dog... doesn't scare me, but I can sort of see someone taking action. BUT, considering they found the bullet entered in the back of the head...yeah, I can't feel bad for the officer. The dog was barking in the truck as the officer pulled up, why even get out if you are that nervous with dogs?

I am definitely sick of hearing about cops shooting dogs...

I delivered pizza five nights a week for three years. In Florida, land of the 'yard dogs'. I traipsed through yards and knocked on the wrong doors plenty of times, had many many dogs run up and NEVER once did I ever wish I had a weapon for any loose dog that approached me. I think there were two dogs (contained, chained or in the yard) EVER that worried me if they were to get off the chain or over the fence. One time I drove up to a house, a large Dane was standing at eye level with me in my car, a little hackly and sort of giving me the stink eye and barking. You know what I did? I called the homeowner from my car, rather than risking my safety in a situation I was unsure of. Because just like the police do, I had their number. Also, the Dane settled and was fine with me when the homeowner came out and took control.

 

[JacksonsMom]

Good.

I've read just about enough stories about cops shooting dogs. This is about more than self-defense, you don't need a GUN to protect you from every dog and far too many obviously non-aggressive animals are being shot by untrained trigger happy idiots like this crying bafoon there need to be consequences.

It's about more than just dogs, it's about cops who are so **** trigger happy they don't even think before using their most powerful weapon to take a life. They go straight for the gun like it's their only option and it's wrong.

I'm so sick of reading stories of cops misusing their weapons. Kids, College students stranded and knocking on someone's door, unarmed people, dogs, family pets, family members...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

He shot that dog in his own home in the back of the head and left it to die with it's crying owners.

His job is to serve and protect and he did neither. Screw him.

10000%. So sick of it. Nonsense.

 

[*blackrose]

I delivered pizza five nights a week for three years. In Florida, land of the 'yard dogs'. I traipsed through yards and knocked on the wrong doors plenty of times, had many many dogs run up and NEVER once did I ever wish I had a weapon for any loose dog that approached me. I think there were two dogs (contained, chained or in the yard) EVER that worried me if they were to get off the chain or over the fence. One time I drove up to a house, a large Dane was standing at eye level with me in my car, a little hackly and sort of giving me the stink eye and barking. You know what I did? I called the homeowner from my car, rather than risking my safety in a situation I was unsure of. Because just like the police do, I had their number. Also, the Dane settled and was fine with me when the homeowner came out and took control.

I think that is the biggest part for me. I have always had dogs that were "watch dogs". They bark and put up a show when we aren't around (and Blackie would have reacted to threatening behavior towards any of us), but as soon as they are given the "okay", they calm down and are perfectly friendly.

If someone walks up to the door/yard/what have you with Abrams loose, he will charge and bark. He would never offer to bite, and if he either a.) knows the person or b.) I'm present, he turns into a mushball when he greets said person. I would be....murderous if an officer shot him because "they felt threatened". I mean...I can't even imagine.

Dogs are protective of their home. Most dogs don't do more than look scary and bark. And for the few that you are worried about, call the **** owner. They'll come collect their dog. If they don't, grab a catch pole, grow some balls, and detain the dog. I started working at a dog kennel when I was 15 years old and handling aggressive dogs was a part of that. I survived. And of those "aggressive dogs", I can count on one hand the number that truly scared me and would have done more than a quick flesh bite had they gotten a hold of me. And I couldn't shoot them, I had to, you know, handle the situation like a sane person.

 

[Dogdragoness]

I think that is the biggest part for me. I have always had dogs that were "watch dogs". They bark and put up a show when we aren't around (and Blackie would have reacted to threatening behavior towards any of us), but as soon as they are given the "okay", they calm down and are perfectly friendly.

If someone walks up to the door/yard/what have you with Abrams loose, he will charge and bark. He would never offer to bite, and if he either a.) knows the person or b.) I'm present, he turns into a mushball when he greets said person. I would be....murderous if an officer shot him because "they felt threatened". I mean...I can't even imagine.

Dogs are protective of their home. Most dogs don't do more than look scary and bark. And for the few that you are worried about, call the **** owner. They'll come collect their dog. If they don't, grab a catch pole, grow some balls, and detain the dog. I started working at a dog kennel when I was 15 years old and handling aggressive dogs was a part of that. I survived. And of those "aggressive dogs", I can count on one hand the number that truly scared me and would have done more than a quick flesh bite had they gotten a hold of me. And I couldn't shoot them, I had to, you know, handle the situation like a sane person.

Mine will also bark and "run at" people when they come up to the gate, especially Yumi, my parent's GSD/husky mix. But its a ruse because she is the biggest coward that every lived and as soon as the person gets out of their car she is high tailing it to hide :/.

I guess that's my other vent, Just LET ME KNOW and I will gladly put my dogs in so the police can search my property (Hey ... I don't want my dogs out with a potentially dangerous criminal either!), but its probably safe to assume that a criminal wouldn't hide in a yard with dogs anyway, too much attention would be drawn to him.

This Pig claimed that he worked for the SPCA, but claimed he didn't know if the dog was being aggressive or not? I think that was an excuse so he could shoot the dog.

My local news did a story about this, and how the guy is facing public ridicule, how businesses are refusing to serve him and how people call him out on the scum he is when he is out in public. Whether he serves jail time our not, I hope the social ramifications if his stunt are everlasting wherever he goes. Its already all over facebook and the internet what a sorry excuse for a human being he is. He deserves everything that's coming to him IMHO.

 

[Assamiea]

The thing that really gets me is this guys lack of compassion in my view. His comments in the entire article sound like they were trumped up to try and make him sound more sympathetic about the situation, but they just sound fake to me. Because, you know, if I had just shot someone's dog in the head my first response would be to apologize, not spew out "Partner, you're about to be upset, but your dog charged me and I had to shoot it".

 

[release the hounds]

I haven't followed this much, but on the little I do know I think it would be different had this been an emergency call. I give a little more leeway in regards to those. Like a frantic 911 call was made and someone was in the house and the officers are responding blindly. I'd hope they aren't waiting for AC to come take care of a barking dog.



But this appears to be an officer coming out to confirm a robbery took place and was coming out hours after the call. He should have stayed in his **** car and yelled out his window or something if he was that afraid of the dog. Step out of your car but stay behind the door and yell to the owners. IF the dog charges, you jump back in your squad car and shut the door. Or you just leave and tell them you'll come make a report when they lock their dog up.

That said, if the owners know someone is coming out, why is your dog able to jump out of a truck window and go after him?

again, the dog pays in the end.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I

That said, if the owners know someone is coming out, why is your dog able to jump out of a truck window and go after him?

again, the dog pays in the end.

It was in the bed of a pickup truck. And the cops didn't come out until 3 hours later. This was a 'farm dog' ... I know the type as we live in the 'country' where dogs often are loose. I don't see why they should need to lock up their dog for 3+ hours waiting for them. But also, they probably just never in a million years thought something would happen like this -- as their dog was friendly.

It's not something I would think about had it not been for all the press and stories lately of these horrible stories. Jackson is little but WILL bark and charge at people coming in our door. If I'm there, once I tell him to stop, he will, but I can only imagine how he would act if a police officer came in when I wasn't there. But he's a perfectly good canine citizen out in public, never caused any problems, never attacked/bit/growled at anyone, etc, but he'd be liable to get shot with the way he acts initially when someone comes on our property.

 

[Xandra]

It was in the bed of a pickup truck. And the cops didn't come out until 3 hours later. This was a 'farm dog' ... I know the type as we live in the 'country' where dogs often are loose. I don't see why they should need to lock up their dog for 3+ hours waiting for them. But also, they probably just never in a million years thought something would happen like this -- as their dog was friendly.

Exactly... this poor guy had probably grown up on a farm that kept dogs loose on the property, friends and neighbours kept dogs loose on the property. Just a normal part of going to someone else's place would be some dogs running around barking. At least that's how it's been in the rural areas I've been to. Probably didn't cross his mind that it would be an issue because it's been a normal part of life to him.

 

[release the hounds]

I grew up rural too. I knew every farm house who's dogs would chase me on my bike and all that too. And if they knew people were coming g over, they'd lock up the ones that would make trouble. If you're showing up unannounced you took your chances

Anyway, I didnt excuse the officers actions at all, but I guess you're right. No steps should be taken by the owner when calling a stranger with a gun and you own a dog with a propensity to charge and bark.

 

[Xandra]

Please, no one's saying it isn't prudent to lock up dogs. You didn't excuse the officer but you seem to blame the owner, and asked why the dog wasn't properly contained... I think the reason it wasn't is that loose dogs are a routine part of everyday life in his community. Given his life experiences thus far I guess he wasn't cynical enough to think there's a decent chance that someone would see the dog, get out of their car and then feel so threatened by it that they'd shoot it. That's not at all normal, probably not something he'd seen or heard of happening, and so he didn't anticipate it.

 

[noludoru]

I grew up rural too. I knew every farm house who's dogs would chase me on my bike and all that too. And if they knew people were coming g over, they'd lock up the ones that would make trouble. If you're showing up unannounced you took your chances

Anyway, I didnt excuse the officers actions at all, but I guess you're right. No steps should be taken by the owner when calling a stranger with a gun and you own a dog with a propensity to charge and bark.

I just ask why the officer shot the dog when the dog was obviously friendly enough to let someone rob the property.

If I was the one to answer that call, I'd figure that if someone could rob the house I could probably get out of my car with my gun holstered.

 

[Dogdragoness]

I guess he just wanted to shoot SOME THING and the dog was the drawer of the short stick