Danville Police Chief speaks out on officer dog shooting
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Danville Police Chief speaks out on officer dog...
Chief now says dog did not attack the officer, but was
Photo from the Harper family
Picture of the dog named “Killer,“ shot and killed by a Danville Police Officer
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Danville officer shoots and kills 12 pound dog; owners don’t know why - June 10, 2009
5:30 p.m.
Danville’s Police chief spoke out on what happened the day an officer shot and killed a dog in a neighborhood.
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Police Chief Philip Broadfoot said the dog named “Killer” did not attack the officer, but was “coming at him aggressively.“
Broadfoot also named the officer who shot and killed the dog. He is Murrill McLean, a 43-year-old and longtime Danville resident. McLean joined the Danville Police Department in 2005.
“Killer” the dachshund was only 12 pounds, but the story of his death has weighed heavily enough on the people of Danville for the police chief to hold a news conference almost three days later.
“No, I don’t think the size of the dog matters,“ Chief Broadfoot said.
Police say it happened quickly, and the officer reacted as if the dog had rabies.
Police have confirmed the dog did not have rabies.
We asked if the bullet was necessary.
“We can debate that all day long. We weren’t standing there at that time,“ Broadfoot said.
Killer’s owner, Tawaiin Harper, doesn’t buy the police chief’s explanation.
“A human could come up and say boo. Does that mean you should turn around and shoot him?“ Harper said.
“No I don’t think he overreacted,“ Broadfoot said.
Police say although Killer never bit anyone, they have proof he was aggressive.
The owner says Killer never hurt anyone.
“Killer hasn’t done anything in the past as far as aggressiveness,“ Harper said.
Neither side is budging and neither can bring back the 12 pound miniature dachshund caught up in the middle.
“He’s a family member and he should be here today,“ Harper said.
————
4:15 p.m.
From Lindsey Henley, in the field
WSLS Reporter
Danville’s Police chief spoke out on what happened the day an officer shot and killed a dog in a neighborhood.
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Police Chief Philip Broadfoot said the dog named “Killer” did not attack the officer, but was “coming at him aggressively.“
Broadfoot also named the officer who shot and killed the dog. He is Murrill McLean, a 43-year-old and longtime Danville resident. McLean joined the Danville Police Department in 2005.
I’ll have what else the chief had to say, as well as reaction from the dog’s owner about what the police called a “history or agression” tonight on WSLS at 6:00 p.m.
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Reader Reactions
He wasted a weiner-dog..LOL…Let me get this straight..an officer of the law shot a mini…not standard..but a mini-dachshund .This guy is a legend .He discharged his weapon into a 12 pound dog..that can’t get it’s hind-end of the ground.And his Chief justifies it.I will speed thru Danville if I have to travel there .Between Danville,Roanoke,Pulaski Police ..We need to up the IQ test for Law Enforcement
People you for get where you live, This is Danville, where police can get away with stuff like that and idiots like paulette dean can force her ideals on people.
I don’t believe dog leash laws makes it ok to kill a dog if it is not leashed.I don’t see the point in blaming the owner either.This family has already lost it’s dog and for what? A 12pd. dog on the worst of days would be an ankle biter. You’d think this dog was a trained attack dog. So what if it was going at the officer aggressively….what could it possibly have done to him? I’ve never heard of a killer dachshund.This man needs a new line of work.People who have compassion for animals would’ve never killed a dog in this manner.Maybe Killer wasn’t the first one he killed.This little dog had a home and family to share life with.In good times and bad they are always there.This kind of outcome is never ok.This man was not in danger and he killed it because he could….shame,shame
This police officer was totally out of line in using deadly force against a 12 pound dog, for several reasons:
1. In order for him to shoot the dog, he had to unholster his pistol, chamber a round, release the safety, check beyond the target to ensure no stray shots would cause harm, aim and fire. This leads me to believe that the dog wasn’t even close.
2. I doubt the dog was rabid. Most owners keep their pet’s shot records up to date.
3. Since the dog was 11 years old, I doubt he could have jumped high enough to bite the officer above his high-top boots that is all the rage with police departments these days.
4. You wonder why police have such bad attitudes about the public they try to protect. I wonder why the public thinks of the police as nothing more than armed thugs with badges.
I don’t understand how or even why you would be afraid of a 12lb little dog. Even if the dog was coming at you the only thing you needed to do with kick it. These types of dogs are small but very protective of their territory and you invaded the space. To me this was just careless judgement.
Maybe the police chief is the one with some form of Rabies. This explanitation is pure bull.
I cant believe what I am seeing here, I own a mini dashound and yeah they are territorial and aggressive. But whats the worst they will do? Bite ya a little? Come on, What is this officer going to do if a 4 year old child bites him,
I dont understand why a man couldnt handle this situation better, this is who we are suppose to trust to protect us. I can honestly feel for the family that this animal belonged to because I know mine is just like a member of our family. so loving and caring.
The officer that done this, should just admit his wrong doing and ask for forgiveness now. And as for the commanding officer, evidently he has no children or pets because if he did he would see what danger his officer is to the innocent. ~~~RIP~~~KILLER~~~
Live in the heart of your owner forever and may your memory haunt your Killer…....
There are many ways to subdue a 12 pound dog other than shooting it. In reading the articles, it seems that the dog barked fiercely and might have run toward the officer. Surely exiting the yard until the ower subdued him, even kicking at the dog would have worked. This was a reaction on the part of the officer. It follows that any citizen who did not obey this officer’s instructions immediately would also be in danger from an officer who overreacts. To me he crossed the line between an officer doing his duty and an officer who is a danger. There should have been disciplinary measures. Had this been my do, I would be seeing a lawyer…not for the money but to insure justice and safety for the citizens.
I have dealt with officer McLean he is at least 6’4” tall and wears military style boots. This is same officer that charged me for a crime committed in North Carolina. Talk to the guy for five minutes and you can clearly see he is unstable. I hope the decision making improves before the homeless shelter opens. May God help us all.
In response to wynd….
You stated: “Va. laws say that an officer can be exempted from a crime if it was preformed within the duties of his office and if a reasonable person would have acted in the same way. (THIS WAS NOT REASONABLE)“
I couldn’t agree with you MORE!!! You are correct in what the Va. laws say. It absolutely true that this was NOT a reasonable action by the officer. If that “excuse” is used on behalf of this loose cannon of a police officer then so should the T-Bone law. You remember, the one that labels all truly reasonable persons as FELONS if they harm a domesticated animal. An 85 pound boxer can be chewing on your child’s head and you have no right to kill it even though it is showing REAL “aggressive behavior.“
So, this “police officer” should be held accountable as any other “reasonable person” would be. HE shot and killed a domesticated animal out of sheer misguided, unprovoked irresponsibility. This “officer” doesn’t need a gun, he needs a pink slip and a trip to state prison for a year.
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