AP Photo/Firefighter David Santuomo
Columbus (OH) firefighter David Santuomo pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possession of a criminal tool (a homemade silencer).
Officer Santuomo, 43 years of age, had previously taken two dogs he had adopted in January 2007, to the basement of his house, and tied them to a pipe, partially suspending them. Officer Santuomo then shot them multiple times. In fact, one dog was reported to have been shot six times in the head. He then dropped the bodies unto a plastic sheet he had previously laid down under the dogs. He wrapped the bodies up and dumped them in the fire station's dumpster.
Later Officer Santuomo bragged to this fellow officers of his actions, allegedly even making jokes. Not amused, his fellow officers reported Officer Santuomo to the authorities.
In a letter written to his Fire Chief, Officer Santuomo claimed that his dogs were suffering after having drank anti-freeze. Santuomo claimed that he shot his dogs to "save them" from their misery. Apparently the thought of calling poison control, or taking the dogs to the vet, never occured to him. In any event, a necropsy disproved Officer Santuomo's story and a later investigation revealed that Officer Santuomo killed his dogs because he did not want to pay for the cost of boarding them while he and his girlfriend went on a cruise. Adding insult to injury, Officer Santuomo's neighbors had offered to take of the dogs for free.
Judge Harland Hale condemned Officer Santuomo to 90 days in jail. Officer Santuomo was also ordered to pay $4,500 to cover the costs of the investigation, and fined $150. Officer Santuomo was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, and to serve five years probation during which he could not own any pets or firearms. Judge Hale also ordered Officer Santuomo to write a letter of apology to a national firefighters magazine and to The Dispatch, the local newspaper. Officer Santuomo will be allowed to serve his 90-day sentence in 10-day increments over a 2-year period.
Officer Santuomo's attorney claimed that this was an "isolated incident" and "totally out of character." However, Officer Santuomo has reportedly received several reprimands for being discourteous to fellow officers, writing a bad check, not paying a traffic fine, and letting his EMT license expire.
As a last gesture of regret at the end of his hearing, Officer Santuomo, who offered no apology for killing his dogs, raised his middle finger to the reporters assembled to cover his story.
Officer Santuomo remains on active duty while awaiting a disciplinary hearing. Let's just hope he has no children who need watching while he serves his jail sentence.
Comments
What can you say about someone like this. He doesn't sound like anyone who will ever feel remorse for his behavior.
This is shameful and a disgrace. Human beings say they are of a "higher order" than animals--I don't think so. This fellow should be made to work in an animal shelter cleaning cat boxes and animal cages for 10 years after he serves 5 years in jail!
I would like to know why a person like this, who has continually showed disregard for his profession and the trust instilled in him b/c of his profession, should even be allowed to keep his job. There should be no question and no further pay while he awaits his disciplinary hearing.
If I were on under his command on the fire ground, I would not feel safe at all!!
I can't believe there is not more of a consequence for this man's actions. Keeping his job? $150 fine? What kind of fine is $150 for murdering two dogs? Absolutely ridiculous. This man should not be any position of authority, let alone a profession where people depend on him to save lives...
When there's an opening for the fire department, hundreds, sometimes thousands of people apply for ONE open position. They do a background check, psych eval, credit check, and interview after interview.
What went wrong? What kind of message does this send about the fire service?
Santuomo's lawyer says in response to the outrage, "It's the same old story. They couldn't care less about people and they love animals."
Check your facts! There is a proven link between violence against animals and violence against humans. The two are inseparable so to be concerned about humanity, you have be outraged at these types of crimes.
90 days, are you kidding. If I were the President this would be a capital crime punishable by death. My he rot in the fires of hell for all eternity.
I would hate to be this mans girlfriend, when he gets tired of her will he shoot her too? Abuse against animals is the same as people. He should not be considered as a person.
This guy is sub-human. Why has he not been fired yet? Not only did he shoot the dogs but he lied about it afterwords. Is this who we want serving as a firefighter? Not me. If my house is burning please send somebody else because I don't want this guy anywhere near me.
I believe that an investigation should be done as to why he was only given such a small fine and short time in jail!!! Why the heck did this a**h___ ever go and adopt the dogs in 2007??? Don't they do a check first? Nothing probably showed up! Had he treated these beautiful animals badly before?? Did anyone know? I can't believe they have allowed him to keep his job!! Can't the animal rights group in that area do anything about this to see that he gets more than this?? Animals were put onto Noah's Ark 2 by 2. They are to be loved. They are to be cherished. He needs to be made to see a psychiatrist! How can the fire department still want him? That puts a bad light on them and if they were smart, they would get rid of him. Who will he shoot next? Even looking at his picture, he looks like something is wrong with him, like he's not all there! How can anyone in their right mind do what he did to two, wonderful dogs!!! All they wanted was to be loved and to love back.
this man should be terminated from his job immediately!! killing and bragging then giving the middle finger after this crime is an insult to all animal owners. disgusting. i bet he's a fan of michael vick. i have an idea, let all the pet owners pass punishment on him!! i want the first crack at this bastard.
i have to agree, killing animals is wrong. unless, they are terminally suffering from sickness or, being hit by a car. tha should be the only time to put them under. but, all of you seem to forget. you got animals " human animals " that is, of all shapes, size, colors & backgrounds. i.e. bundy, gacy, dahmer, & the list goes on & on. whether they kill animals, humans, or whatever it is, you can't rid society of them. that's life. you can't control other people's actions. no one, really knows who there neighbors' are, behind closed doors & windows. we can only assume what we see & know. unfortunately at times, we may get the shock & awe of our lives. why ?, what made them do it ?, they seemed like such a nice person. over & over hundreds say the same thing. we will nwver know why, people do the things they do. you can be bought in a good household, & still go the wrong way. you may not think so but, it does happen more than you think. food 4 thought. c-ya.
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