Post by Shuftin on Jan 9, 2007 18:43:41 GMT -5
1/2/07
The Greece Police Department is speaking publicly for the first time since an officer shot a family dog in the face over the weekend.
Greece police tell News 10NBC the officer who shot the black lab is an eight-year veteran of law enforcement, and they say his actions were justified. “We're sorry it happened. It's certainly unfortunate. Absolutely we wish this didn't happen,” said Lt. Wise of the Greece Police Department. “I know the officer who shot the dog. I know he feels bad, a dog owner himself. This isn't something we do lightly.”
But Chris Cubiotti still can't believe what happened early Saturday morning outside his Elmgrove Road home. “They should do something about it. I mean my dog did nothing wrong but bark at the officer,” said Cubiotti. Cubiotti called 911 after he saw vandals slashing a snow globe decoration in his front yard. When a police officer showed up, the family dog, Duke, was there to greet him.
“The dog starts charging and barking. The homeowner is saying the dog doesn't bite,” said Lt. Wise.
“He already had his pistol out and I wasn't going to get between him and the dog,” said Cubiotti.
“The dog is not responding to commands from the owner to return,” said Lt. Wise.
“Duke is a rock head. He starts barking, you can call him til you're blue in the face,” said Cubiotti.
“Then I heard the officer yell - you better get that dog- and before dog was out of his mouth - I heard the gunfire,” said Julie Cubiotti.
“The officer felt threatened by the charging dog and shot the dog once,” said Lt. Wise.
Five-year-old duke now has 24 staples across his face...and another 14 stitches inside his mouth, but doctors say he should make a complete recovery. It cost nearly $4,000 to stitch duke back up. The Cubiottis feel the Greece Police Department is responsible and should pay up. Police officials say they're sorry, but they won't pay the bill
“We took a statement from the officer and the homeowner and as we review what happened - it was justified,” said Lt. Wise. Police say there have been at least four dog shootings involving police officers in Greece over the past year. Lt. wise says this incident should be a lesson for all dog owners.
“If the police are coming to your house, secure your dog whether it's the most friendly pet in the world. Dogs may feel threatened by a police officer showing up,” said Lt. Wise.
Cubiotti still says the officer's actions were too violent. “He overreacted. The dog scared him and he used excessive force. It's not right.”
The Cubiottis say the nearly four thousand-dollar vet bill is a hard hit just after the holidays. They also say no one from Greece Police Department has even called to apologize. Department officials say they feel very bad about what happened
www.10nbc.com/news.asp?template=item&story_id=21113
The Greece Police Department is speaking publicly for the first time since an officer shot a family dog in the face over the weekend.
Greece police tell News 10NBC the officer who shot the black lab is an eight-year veteran of law enforcement, and they say his actions were justified. “We're sorry it happened. It's certainly unfortunate. Absolutely we wish this didn't happen,” said Lt. Wise of the Greece Police Department. “I know the officer who shot the dog. I know he feels bad, a dog owner himself. This isn't something we do lightly.”
But Chris Cubiotti still can't believe what happened early Saturday morning outside his Elmgrove Road home. “They should do something about it. I mean my dog did nothing wrong but bark at the officer,” said Cubiotti. Cubiotti called 911 after he saw vandals slashing a snow globe decoration in his front yard. When a police officer showed up, the family dog, Duke, was there to greet him.
“The dog starts charging and barking. The homeowner is saying the dog doesn't bite,” said Lt. Wise.
“He already had his pistol out and I wasn't going to get between him and the dog,” said Cubiotti.
“The dog is not responding to commands from the owner to return,” said Lt. Wise.
“Duke is a rock head. He starts barking, you can call him til you're blue in the face,” said Cubiotti.
“Then I heard the officer yell - you better get that dog- and before dog was out of his mouth - I heard the gunfire,” said Julie Cubiotti.
“The officer felt threatened by the charging dog and shot the dog once,” said Lt. Wise.
Five-year-old duke now has 24 staples across his face...and another 14 stitches inside his mouth, but doctors say he should make a complete recovery. It cost nearly $4,000 to stitch duke back up. The Cubiottis feel the Greece Police Department is responsible and should pay up. Police officials say they're sorry, but they won't pay the bill
“We took a statement from the officer and the homeowner and as we review what happened - it was justified,” said Lt. Wise. Police say there have been at least four dog shootings involving police officers in Greece over the past year. Lt. wise says this incident should be a lesson for all dog owners.
“If the police are coming to your house, secure your dog whether it's the most friendly pet in the world. Dogs may feel threatened by a police officer showing up,” said Lt. Wise.
Cubiotti still says the officer's actions were too violent. “He overreacted. The dog scared him and he used excessive force. It's not right.”
The Cubiottis say the nearly four thousand-dollar vet bill is a hard hit just after the holidays. They also say no one from Greece Police Department has even called to apologize. Department officials say they feel very bad about what happened
www.10nbc.com/news.asp?template=item&story_id=21113