So many good points made here.
Tamara, I'm right on the same page with you.
My initial emotional reaction aside, I think Roscoe and Enos caught themselves an international terrorist group masquerading undercover as the Cleavers, and the dog was a HIGHLY trained Rhodesian attack dog masquerading as a family pet. The tail wagging was meant to make the LEO's drop their defenses, so he could go for the kill.
You guys trying to make this out as a justified shooting:
I can understand not wanting to add fuel to the fire of the "Us vs. Them" mentality that is becoming rampant. However, this whole incident was spiraling FAR out of control long before the shooting, which capped the whole thing as farcical and tragic.
FWIW, as I listened to the local drive-time talk radio this morning, more than one local good-ole boy mentioned the necessity for them to have to shoot him too, had they shot his dog.
(Maybe just a commentary on where I live, I dunno.)
While that should never be the case, I do hope they sue the pants off of the officer, and he never works in any job where he carries a lethal weapon again.
Matt G:
Now. Is it the opinion of all the critics here that an officer must accept being bitten by even a 25 lb dog? Just clarifying, here.
That's not the issue. You make it sound ridiculous. This officer was supposedly a trained LEO, holding a shotgun and Lord knows WHAT else. Can you say "Force continuum"? Can you say "buttstroke"? :banghead: