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Posted: December 28, 2006

Raleigh Police Chief Contacts Family of Dog Shot by Officer

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Truman

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Family Shocked That Police Wounded Their Dog
Raleigh's police chief personally called the family of the dog shot by a police officer.

Chief Jane Perlov told the family about the procedure for filing for city reimbursement for the veterinary costs.

On Christmas, Officer R.A. Smith shot Truman, a chocolate Labrador, in the head while responding to a call about a dog bite. Smith claims the dog went after him.

Truman's owner said the dog was tied to the front porch. Truman survived the shooting, but has a ruptured eardrum.

Smith remains on normal duty while the incident is being investigated by the police's Internal Affairs Department.

Perlov has also talked personally with the officer involved, Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said.

RELATED TOPICS: Raleigh

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81 Comments


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jeanmpt - you are saying that your husband can shoot anyone or anything and it is justified? Is he God? I trust your husband has the discipline that the RPD office failed to have, and the judgment to not pull a weapon in such a situation. Guns should only be pulled from their holsters in extraordinary situations where the officer or another human being's life is in immediate danger - even if the dog had bitten the officer it would not justify killing the dog with a service revolver. Did you ever have a dog?
Click to view my profile Tax Man
December 30, 2006 10:41 a.m.
"The fact that this is still in the news is sad. This made more headlines than a human being killed. Thats pretty pathetic."-----From another poster---

I think you are missing the point. Yeh the story may be getting more attention than a human being murdered but exactly how do you suggest the lab, tied to his porch by the way, protect himself from Raleigh's finest next time one approaches with a gun?
sgrinstead
December 30, 2006 9:21 a.m.
No way would a Lab be aggressive unless it thought the cop was threatening the owner. This cop is a hothead and should have been fired on the spot. I'm disappointed in you, Raleigh PD. When this guy goes off and shoots a human IN THE HEAD without cause, we know who to blame for not firing this guy.

Jeanmpt-- if someday someone you know gets shot in the head by a hotheaded person like this who would shoot a friendly dog (all Labs are superfriendly), you might think twice about your attitude. Someone who would hurt a defenseless animal would also hurt a human. That's how most killers start out.
illiniangel9
December 29, 2006 10:58 p.m.
All other comments aside ; my wife and I have had dogs for all our 33+ married years . 28 years ago had a dobie that caused 70+ stiches in a burglers leg during a break in ! We feed our dogs well for protection and they are like family ! Late at night in March 2000 a deputy had to deliver a sad messege that my father had died and our lab went bastlistic but the deputy didn't shoot ; he backed off and sounded his horn and siren at 1:00 AM untill we came to the door and calmed the dog . His comment was that the dog was just doing what it was with us for !
geowilrlst
December 29, 2006 2:38 a.m.
As the wife of a law enforcement officer, all I can say is, as long as my husband comes home alive at the end of the day, I know anyone or any creature he shoots is justified. Oh yeah, and I do work and don't sit around all day in my pajamas responding to blogs.
Click to view my profile lawdogzwife
December 28, 2006 11:17 p.m.
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