| Author | Message | ||
     Blackmotorcycle |
I have been pulled over by two really bad cops in the last year. They were totally aggesive cops. One was for pulling over to botton my jackett. Never had a tickett in the last 20 years. Nothing to compare to this story. You got to read this. I got these cops website where you can send them a message. I did. Here is the article. http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/01/09/police.kill.dog/index.html Here is the cops website. http://www.cookevillepolice.com/contact_us/compliments_suggestions.htm COOKEVILLE, Tennessee (CNN) -- Police video released Wednesday showed a North Carolina family kneeling and handcuffed, who shrieked as officers killed their dog -- which appeared to be playfully wagging its tail -- with a shotgun during a traffic stop. The Smoak family was pulled over the evening of January 1 on Interstate 40 in eastern Tennessee by officers who mistakenly suspected them of a carjacking. An investigation showed James Smoak had simply left his wallet on the roof of his car at a gas station, and motorists who saw his money fly off the car as he drove away called police. The family was driving through eastern Tennessee on their way home from a New Year trip to Nashville. They told CNN they are in the process of retaining a lawyer and considering legal action against the Cookeville, Tennessee, Police Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for what happened to them and their dog. In the video, released by the highway patrol, officers are heard ordering the family, one by one, to get out of their car with their hands up. James Smoak and his wife, Pamela, and 17-year-old son Brandon are ordered onto their knees and handcuffed. "What did I do?" James Smoak asks the officers. "Sir, inside information is that you was involved in some type of robbery in Davidson County," the unidentified officer says. Smoak and his wife protest incredulously, telling the officers that they are from South Carolina and that their mother and father-in-law are traveling in another car near them. The Smoaks told CNN that as they knelt, handcuffed, they pleaded with officers to close the doors of their car so their two dogs would not escape, but the officers did not heed them. Pamela Smoak is seen on the tape looking up at an officer, telling him slowly, "That dog is not mean. He won't hurt you." Her husband says, "I got a dog in the car. I don't want him to jump out." The tape then shows the Smoaks' medium-size brown dog romping on the shoulder of the Interstate, its tail wagging. As the family yells, the dog, named Patton, first heads away from the road, then quickly circles back toward the family. An officer in a blue uniform aims his shotgun at the dog and fires at its head, killing it immediately. For several moments, all that is audible are shrieks as the family reacts to the shooting. James Smoak even stands up, but officers pull him back down. "Y'all shot my dog! Y'all shot my dog!" James Smoak cries. "Oh my God! God Almighty!" "You shot my dog!" screams his wife, distraught and still handcuffed. "Why'd you kill our dog?" "Jesus, tell me, why did y'all shoot my dog?" James Smoak says. The officers bring him to the patrol car, and the family calms down, but still they ask the officers for an explanation. One of them says Patton was "going after" the officer. "No he wasn't, man," James Smoak says. "Y'all didn't have to kill the dog like that." Brandon told CNN that Patton, was playful and gentle -- "like Scooby-Doo" -- and may have simply gone after the beam of the flashlight as he often did at home, when Brandon and the dog would play. The Tennessee Department of Safety, which oversees the Highway Patrol, has said an investigation is underway. 'Could have been avoided' Cookeville Police Chief Robert Terry released a statement on the department's Web site Wednesday night describing the department's regret over the incident. The Cookeville Police Department site was not responding Thursday morning. "I know the officer wishes that circumstances could have been different so he could have prevented shooting the dog," Terry wrote. "It is never gratifying to have to put an animal down, especially a family pet, and the officer assures me that he never displayed any satisfaction in doing so." Terry said he and the vice-mayor of Cookeville met with the family before they left "to convey our deepest sympathies" for the loss of their dog. "No one wants to experience this kind of thing, and it's very unfortunate that it occurred," he wrote. "If we had the benefit of hindsight, I'm sure some -- if not all of this -- could have been avoided. I believe the Tennessee Highway Patrol feels the same way." The department is conducting an investigation to determine what, if anything, could have been done differently, he said. Police also plan to be in contact with the Smoak family, Terry said. The Smoaks buried their pet at home. A white cross marks the grave. | ||
| Jim_Witt |
Kyle, Must be that inner-breeding thing that goes on there. -JW:>]  | ||
| Tripp |
that asshole should definitely be fired! | ||
| Tripp |
besides being sued silly! | ||
| Madav8tr |
There are two sides to every story and the only side that most people will hear will be the sensationalistic side that the media chooses to portray. The same can be said for the medias description of "reckless motorcyclists" that we all have been branded with at one time or another(whether we deserved the stereotype or not). I am a police officer and I don't know if I would have done it any different in that situation. Regardless of your opinions on law enforcement, you don't know what you would have done either. I wasn't there and neither were you. The only thing that I am sure of is that I will not be bitten by any animal as long as I have a firearm at my disposal. I am a K9 handler and I know first hand the extent of damage that can be incurred by a dog bite. | ||
| Blackmotorcycle |
You should be ashamed to be a cop after reading that! It is on film, it is shamefull. It was needless, there was no threat. You cops do not treat people with respect when you pull them over. There is no excuse for it. What you just said here makes me sick. | ||
| Bomber |
Black . . .. . you should be ashamed of what you said to Mad . . . . you have no idea what kind of officer he is, and to lump him in with the idiots in your story is like holding you accountable for Sonny Barger's failings . . . . . . . | ||
| Blackmotorcycle |
Not ashamed at all. Look at what he wrote. There is no excuse for something like this. No way a cop should accept something like this as ok. If we accept this type of thing we allow them to come and do anything to us. These people had done nothing more than stop at a gas station. Broke no laws. If someone can stop you in this case and kill your dog, or even the fact that he fired a gun near your kids like that, we have no freedom. | ||
| Rick_A |
I think most people could tell the difference between a running, playful dog and a running, attacking dog. Seems inexcusable to me. What's the typical punishment for killing a police dog? Why can't a cop killing a family's pet be subject to the same punishment? | ||
| Blackmotorcycle |
Exactly Rick. I don't think most people realize how corrupt government is getting. I work in the Government and I blew the Whistle. It’s a long story but to make it very very short and simple. I turned my boss in for doing illegal stuff. Wasting your money!, Fraud, Abuse, Had to do with some Clinton stuff ect. What did I get? Investigated by the FBI and I had to leave my Job. | ||
| Hootowl |
While I agree that what this particular cop did is inexcusable, lumping all police officers together and calling them bad is just as wrong. Would you put your ass on the line every day for the lousy working conditions and meager pay that most officers receive? Cops and teachers. WAY underpaid. | ||
| Mikej |
Devil's advocate here, but even a friendly household pet may defend it's owner family if it thinks they are being attacked. The family at gunpoint on the ground could be considered under attack by a family pet. I've worked as a volunteer reserve animal control officer at a county animal control office and learned that the first thing to do after getting the situation under control is to get the dogs under control or restrained. I don't know the first hand story of the incident under discussion, but from what I saw on the news footage the dogs should have been secured by the owners prior to stepping out of the car. Slow, carefull actions on the part of the "suspects" should have allowed the officers on the scene to allow the "suspects" to control or restrain their pets prior to exiting the vehicle. The officers on the other hand were probably acting under the assumption of a felony stop, and I don't know the training they've had on dealing with loose dogs in a vehicle. The answer is there is no easy answer. Wait for the trial or out of court settlements to make your own final judgements. I've known good and bad cops. I've known good and bad dogs. I've known friendly looking dogs with tails wagging to bite someone without hesitation. I know enough to know I don't know enough about this particular incident to pass final judgement. | ||
| Blaster420 |
So if any dog comes at me I have the right to protect myself from being bitten by shooting it? Cool!, even though I know that there is not a dog out there that I cannot take out with my bare (or with those cool black gloves all the cool cops are wearing now days) hands? I will not guess at what drove the cops to shoot this dog. Maybe we are all at risk from things smarter then ourselves? I just think that in all the cop training they would at least cover how to deal with a family that turns spot loose on them, or maybe that was to be after the course "How to disarm a man with a Banana". I guess that rant is over now. Oh yeah before I get all the smart comments, I will take on any dogs be it police or whatever, but remember I will not pay the vet bill and I will not be responsible for what happens to them. Ben | ||
| Blackmotorcycle |
Fare enough I don't want to lump them all together. As far as danger, more coal miners die every year than cops. They risk their life everyday to give us electricity, for little thanks or pay. They have a choice, they don't have to be coal miners, but their life choices led them to that. Matter of fact my Great Grandfather was murder by Pinkerton Security Agents enforcing the law. What had he done? He didn’t want to die in a Mine for company script. I put my life on the line in 91 for little pay or thanks. | ||
| Mikej |
Rick_A, Killing a cop or a police dog has a higher penalty than killing a non-cop citizen or a non-police dog. I don't necessarily agree with that ruling and legislation, especially since various courts and judges have ruled that the police are not required to protect you, but that's the way it is. If person A murders a private citizen, and if person B murders a police officer, person B will have a higher or harsher sentence than person A. My interpretation on that ruling is that it means police officer's lives are more valuable than private citizen's lives, that is my bottom line judgement of that legislation. If there is cause to effect a higher penalty for killing a cop, then there should be the same higher penalty for killing a non-cop, anything less is unfair and places differing values on people's lives based on their social status or job function. In my mind a life is a life, regardless if that life is adorned with a badge or duty to Protect and Serve. This ends my discussion on this matter. A life, any life, has the same value as any other life. Period. There are just causes to kill for, but a life is still a life. | ||
| Blackmotorcycle |
I'm going to pay the 4 bucks to download the .mpeg | ||
| Duck |
I was pulled over three times last year for doing things on the Buell that I shouldn't have done. In every instance the officer involved was more than polite and professional. In each situation the officer asked me what I was doing and when I explained myself the officer involved told me to take it easy, slow down, or watch out for the idiots in cars. I thanked them and was on my way. I guess I've just been very lucky. I won't lump all law enforcement types into one group. Sure there bad cops out there, but they are clearly in the minority. Most police officers work hard, long, and dangerous hours that most folks wouldn't think of no matter what the pay. | ||
| Mikej |
One in ten thousand is probably marginal, one in one hundred thousand is possibly bad, but we all make situational bad judgements at times where we reacted and upon later re-evaluation we may have chosen a different action were we able to do so again. (I think that's confusing enough.)  | ||
| Hootowl |
"I put my life on the line in 91 for little pay or thanks." From the bottom of my heart, Thank you. I was there too. Last year it came up in conversation that I had been in the Navy, and someone thanked me for my service. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Jeff | ||
| Sportsman |
I agree with mikej. Killing a cop is like killing anybody else only a cop was an armed threat to the "bad guy". Personally, if I'm walking down the street I'll cross for teenage gangsta's or cops, they are both gangs that I'd rather not deal with. As far as risk their lives, give me a break, the 7-11 clerk, the trucker, or as black pointed out miner, is at far more risk and their family does not get a pension or even disability, if things go wrong. | ||
| Mikej |
Well, I won't agree with Sportsman,  I won't cross the street to avoid a cop (usually) as I don't see them as a gang. By definition a gang is two or more people gathered for or with criminal intent. We all risk our lives to some extent every day. A soldier is sworn to enter into harm's way, an officer is sworn to enforce the law which at times places them into harm's way. Life is dangerous, and we each must stay aware of that in our daily duties. | ||
| Ferris |
for what it's worth, i've had more "professional" encounters with LEO's whilst hammering on my various cars and scooters over a 31-year driving/riding career than i can begin to remember (the most recent being just last week, 87-mph in a 60-mph zone, let go with a polite verbal warning), and have NEVER encountered what i would consider to be a "bad" cop. once more for emphasis: MANY traffic stops, in SEVERAL states, over a LONG period of time, and ZERO bad encounters. cops perform a dangerous job for far less than they should get paid, in my opinion, and i extend my thanks and respect to the law enforcement community for protecting my ass. yes, there are undoubtedly some "bad" cops out there, just as there are certainly "bad" people in all professions and occupations, but it hardly seems fair to condemn ALL for the actions of a FEW. FB | ||
| Roc |
I think rule number 1 in dealing with LEO's is the "attitude test". If you come off as an ass then you are much more apt to into trouble/fined/etc. I think there are many good people in law enforcement and I'm happy to call a few of them friends. That being said I think there are many bad cops, be they mean or just stupid. I have been pulled over for "speeding", on a bike, while going under the speed of the traffic around me - ticketed once and given directions a second time. I have been tailgated on the freeway, maybe 2 car lenghts back, by a cop and I was going the speed limit - I think maybe he wanted me to run. | ||
| Shot_Gun |
I wouldn't lump all police in a bundle as bad cops. I've been pulled over for riding with one hand by local county cops up by Copake NY. They gave me a riot act like I had committed the worst crime there in 20 years and then let go. I've been pulled over for speeding in PA by a trooper. After a conversation about my bike he let me go with a verbal warning and told me to be safe. Once in NJ with similar results. I think local cops sometimes have nothing better to do. It doesn't necessarily make them bad just bored. SG | ||
| 99x1 |
"...been pulled over for speeding..." From MCN news for today: Speed limits are being raised in Italy to improve road safety. Italian transport minister Pietro Lunardi believes higher speeds will improve the traffic flow, and encourage motorists to pay attention. The change will affect three-lane motorways, with the limit raising to 150km/h (93mph), from January 1, 2004. Lunardi went on to say that psychologists and doctors say people who go faster drive better and are more careful, and that only 9 per cent of fatal accidents were caused by speeding. | ||
| Stormfool |
Tooo cool 99x1--too bad we are still provincials in that regard. Maybe next the italians will legalize reefer--since they seem to have some common sense. | ||
| Hootowl |
I used to live in a small town outside of Memphis while I was going to school in the Navy, and the road I took to school, a curvy nearly deserted farm road, was the scene of the most vehicle roll overs I have ever witnessed. Just about every two weeks, I'd come up on a rolled car with people still climbing out. And this is only the ones I've witnessed. I was doing 55 down that road one day (it's a 30) and was pulled over. The LEO told me that there have been a lot of accidents on that road recently and that they were just out there trying to get people to slow down. He didn't cite me. | ||
| M2me |
I don't know enough about this incident to pass judgement on the cops involved. Maybe they were justified in killing the dog or maybe they are just jerks. I don't know enough to say. I think there should be extra punishment for killing a cop. The police are supposed to enforce the laws that we the people have voted for. So, when someone shoots a cop, they are not just shooting a human being, but are also shooting the "law" and "we the people". Anyone who does this is extremely dangerous and must be dealt the highest punishment possible. | ||
| Madav8tr |
I am corrupt because I offer a different view from you blackmotorcyle? Grow up. You have issues with law enforcement and that is not my problem so don't include me in your little " corrupt" world. OK. All I did was state that there are two sides to every story and since none of us were there at the scene none of us know the entire story. Is that too hard to understand? Last point, you do not know me so don't infer that I mistreat people please. | ||
| Ray_Maines |
Someone above said "I won't lump all law enforcement types into one group." Fair enough. How about if we lump them into two groups. Traffic cops and non-traffic cops. The Non-traffic cops can go get a donut at this point. Traffic cops are generally a slimy group of mean, vindictive, dim witted ass holes that should probably be euthenized for the greater good of civilized society. These jerks live solely for the purpose and pleasure of inflicting pain on innocent people. They revel in the opportunity to disrupt the lives of normal citizens. Traffic cops serve no useful purpose except to generate income for the local government and should be held in no higher regard than a Bible times Tax Gatherer. These are the very people that used to get picked on in elementary school for being weird, abnormal, nerdy teachers pets. They suffer serious emotional problems and have deeply repressed sexual conflicts. I honestly believe they lock themselves in restrooms and daydream about giving moving violation tickets to Catholic Nuns. It’s interesting that the actor who played Eddie Haskel on the old Leave It To Beaver TV show went on to become a traffic cop. If I remember correctly, he died in the line of duty. No comment. |
