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Police officer identified in killing of 11 year-old dachshund, outrage grows over shooting
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"Killer" the miniature dachshund shot by a police officer.
(Richmond-Times Dispatch)
Outrage continues to grow over a police officer's shooting and killing of a 12-pound, 11 year-old miniature dachshund in Danville, Virginia on Monday, June 8.
An online petition has been started protesting the use of excessive force, while others are encouraging outraged readers to contact the Danville Police Department directly by email and phone.
Columnist Michael Paul "Mike" Williams of the Richmond Times-Disptach wrote an excellent article entitled "Danville police officer was dead wrong to kill dachshund."
In the article, Williams reveals that the Danville Police Department has a history of shooting and killing dogs. In fact, the killing of "six or eight" dogs in 2006 (involving pit bulls, a Labrador retriever and one Doberman pinscher) prompted the local Danville humane society to foot the bill for the American Humane Society to come into the Danville Police Department and train the officers on how best to handle threatening dogs.
Apparently, an element that was left out of the training was "How to use one's common sense when being barked at by an aging, diminutive pooch." Surely, the training would have recommended the officer reach for the pepper spray or get into the patrol car?
Still, Danville's Chief of Police Philip Broadfoot defends the officer's actions, maintaining that "it is within the department's policy to shoot a dog that is presenting a threat to an officer."
The department initially refused to release the officer's name, but since then revealed that it was Officer Murrill McLean, 43, who pulled the trigger on the 11 year-old dachshund. Officer McLean is described by the department as a "longtime resident of Danville who joined the force in 2005," reports WXII12 News. (We'd love to know whether Officer McLean was in attendance at the humane society training since he was employed by the department at the time of the training.)
In actions that seem as if the Danville Police Department "doth protest too much," it is also asserting that the wiener dog --- affectionately and ironically named "Killer" --- may have had rabies and allegedly displayed aggressive tendencies in the past. Meanwhile, neighbors describe the aging dachshund as a harmless and sweet neighborhood dog.
The Danville Police Department realizes that the shooting of a small breed dog is unusual and will be the subject of much discussion in the community...
...Options are limited when dealing with a dog that is engaged in a running attack from the rear without warning...
In the few seconds before the attack, most officers will not decide to 'take a bite' in the hopes that the dog can be identified, captured, and quarantined. It is unreasonable to expect an officer to factor into his decision making process during an attack the likelihood of a successful identification, capture, and quarantine after the attack
--Danville Police Department, attempting to justify the killing of an 11 year-old miniature dachshund weighing 12 pounds
"McLean also is a staff sergeant in the Virginia National Guard with more than 14 years of military service, including a tour in Iraq," reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
"I don't think he overreacted," Chief Broadfoot said. "I think he reacted based on the information he had at the time. Any attempt to characterize him as reckless is inconsistent with his proven record of responsible behavior."
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