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News :: Crime & Police
Tennessee Cops Shoot Family Dog As Family Watches Current rating: 0
09 Jan 2003
Modified: 09:57:26 AM
Tennesse police officers shot the Smoak family dog while the family, bound with handcuffs watched on.
Finally, an issue where police brutality activists and animal rights folks can come together. This is beyond gross.

The Smoak family was returning home from Nashville TN, after New Year's Eve revelry along I-40 through the Blue Ridge Mountains in eastern Tennessee. Apparently mistaken for carjackers, Tennessee Highway Patrol Officers (and possibly Cookeville, TN PD) ordered James Smoak, his wife Pamela and his 17 year old son Brandon onto the ground where they were handcuffed. The family asked the officers to shut the doors of the car so the family dogs would not exit onto the busy interstate, but the officers refused to comply.

On a tape released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Pamela Smoak is seen clearly and slowly telling the officers that the dogs are not mean or a threat. The tape then shows the medium sized brown dog playing on the interstate, tail wagging. With the family yelling at the dog to get back in the car, one of the police officers takes careful aim with a shotgun at the dog Patton's head, killing it instantly.

"Ya'll shot my dog!" James Smoak cries, "Oh my God, God Almighty!"

"You shot my dog!" screams his wife, distraught and still handcuffed. "Why'd you kill our dog?"

"Jesus, tell me, why did y'all shoot my dog?" James Smoak says.

The department is conducting an investigation to determine what, if anything, could have been done differently, he said. Police also plan to be in contact with the Smoak family, Cookeville police chief Robert Terry said.

The Smoaks buried their pet at home. A white cross marks the grave.






See also:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/01/08/police.kill.dog/index.html
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/01/27473390.shtml?Element_ID=27473390
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Re: Tennessee Cops Shoot Family Dog As Family Watches
Current rating: -1
09 Jan 2003
Modified: 08:15:32 PM
I saw somewhere today that the dog was shot within three seconds of getting out of the car. With it's tail wagging, it hardly seems to have presented any sort of threat.
Video
Current rating: 0
11 Jan 2003
Since the video is so dramatic, it has been shown on talk shows. Here, again, we have an example of police taking the "assumptions" of the general public in "apprehending" criminals.

The show I watched had the family on. They said that they left a wallet on the top of the car and money was flying out. Someone called police to say they "thought" a robbery must have taken place because money was flying out of a car.

The police swooped in and did what they are good at: shoot first and ask questions later.

Reminds me of the "terrorist" threat on the Florida turnpike from some crazed women. (Notice both stories take place down South)
Bu!!$&^#
Current rating: 0
11 Jan 2003
suspects completely tied up at 2:08 am;

car doors left open until 3:17 am, when the vicious, uncontrollable dog runs out of the car WAGGING HIS TAIL!!!!

RIGHT!! The dog had sat in the car for over an hour with doors open and his family outside with 6 stranger who had flashing lights and sticks. THAT is the best controlled dog I ever heard of!

IDIOTS
Bu!!$&^#
Current rating: 0
11 Jan 2003
suspects completely tied up at 2:08 am;

car doors left open until 3:17 am, when the vicious, uncontrollable dog runs out of the car WAGGING HIS TAIL!!!!

RIGHT!! The dog had sat in the car for over an hour with doors open and his family outside with 6 stranger who had flashing lights and sticks. THAT is the best controlled dog I ever heard of!

IDIOTS
Re: Tennessee Cops Shoot Family Dog As Family Watches
Current rating: 0
14 Jan 2003
It's sick that the police department blatantly lies to cover up that Eric Hall shot and killed an openly-friendly dog. The tape is the truth. But we're supposed to take the polices' story of things once again. They must think we're stupid. Eric Hall should be brought up on charges of animal cruelty and abuse. He belongs in prison. If anyone else did what he did, that's where they'd be. Eric Hall is no different because he wore a badge. He's a COWARD through-and-through. His actions were sickening.
Re: Tennessee Cops Shoot Family Dog As Family Watches
Current rating: 0
05 Jan 2004
Give the man a break, God forbid he do his job.
Re: Tennessee Cops Shoot Family Dog As Family Watches
Current rating: 0
25 Aug 2004
If 'doing his job' includes harassing innocent people and shooting their dog after they very clearly asked the cop twice to close the door (which he ignored) , then he needs to be fired.

If I screw up at work, Im held responsible for it. Same goes for some low iq redneck cop who didnt have the common sense to shut the f*cking door.
Re: feral or wild dogs policy in darwin area Australia
Current rating: 0
20 Feb 2006
dear sir/madam

do your have anything on dog policy in your area close effort for australia because I'm doing a pest management plan for eastpoint reserve wild dog of australia.

yours sincerely


Karen Rae KLose