# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942 "2014-10-10T07:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 323
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6441 "2015-10-10T14:46:38Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > [Cop Accidentally Shoots 4-Year-Old Girl: 'Mommy Am I Gonna Die?'](http://news.yahoo.com/cop-accidentally-shoots-4-old-212529646.html) > > That is a truly horrible story. A headline would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6442 "2015-10-10T14:49:24Z")
Cop helps injured little girl by shooting her! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6443 "2015-10-10T14:52:04Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Cop helps injured little girl by shooting her! You left out the part where he was shooting at a dog that attacked him. It’s obviously a tragic accident that the girl got hit instead, but your summary is just plain misrepresenting the facts. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6444 "2015-10-10T15:03:46Z")
The officer says the dog charged at him. But recent history has shown us that officers are fully capable of lying and exaggerating. I’m betting the dog charged at him the same way that Dino would charge at Fred. I thought cops were supposed to be brave. What kind of punk-ass bitch chooses to endanger the life of a child and everyone else around him just so he won’t get nipped by a dog? ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6445 "2015-10-10T15:08:13Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I thought cops were supposed to be brave. What kind of punk-ass bitch chooses to endanger the life of a child and everyone else around him just so he won’t get nipped by a dog? Pepper spray would have worked well. One reason cops are supposed to only fire their weapon as a last resort, is because it’s FUCKING DANGEROUS and bullets can go through objects, bounce off shit, and hurt people. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6446 "2015-10-10T15:09:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You left out the part where he was shooting at a dog that attacked him. Which in no way justifies any use of firearms. He should go to jail. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6447 "2015-10-10T15:15:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You left out the part where he was shooting at a dog that attacked him. It’s obviously a tragic accident that the girl got hit instead, but your summary is just plain misrepresenting the facts. The dog did not attack him. You’re just plain misrepresenting the facts. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6448 "2015-10-10T15:21:35Z")
In a completely different story, [crazy ass white chick isn’t shot by cops](http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/10/unbelievable-video-of-a-woman-doing-donuts-and-ramming-into-a-police-car), despite hitting a cop twice with her car. The audio of the guy filming is priceless. (he keeps telling the cops to shoot her) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6449 "2015-10-10T15:32:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Which in no way justifies any use of firearms. He should go to jail. I suppose he should have negotiated with the dog? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6450 "2015-10-10T15:33:02Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > The dog did not attack him. You’re just plain misrepresenting the facts. [QUOTE=The article you posted] But as the cop approached the house, events took a horrific turn. Cops said the family pet - a boxer-terrier mix named Patches, charged at the officer. [/QUOTE] Ahem. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6451 "2015-10-10T15:37:45Z")
That’s not an attack. That’s a dog running at people. Dogs run at people all the time - to angrily or happily bark, to sniff, to get petted, to drown them in slobber, sometimes even to bite. Only the latter could be qualified as an attack, you disingenuous bell-end. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6452 "2015-10-10T16:00:44Z")
So the officer should have waited until _after_ a hostile animal was mauling him to take action. Meanwhile, the woman he’s there to help continues bleeding out. I suppose he should have just run and hid in his squad car and waited for animal control. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6453 "2015-10-10T16:08:33Z")
Or he could have used pepper spray. Or asked the woman to call back her dog. Or just paused to let the dog sniff him. Or given him a swift kick in the nadges, which in my experience gives dogs pause for thought. Or any number of options besides “clear leather and shoot ASAP” that police officers all over the world know to do when confronted with man’s best friend, which is not altogether a rare fucking occurrence in the course of their job. As is your MO, as soon as a badge is flashed you instantly exclude all the middles and get down on all fours. Careful BTW, that’ll get you shot, evidently. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6454 "2015-10-10T16:29:29Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So the officer should have waited until _after_ a hostile animal was mauling him to take action. Just to be clear, by “take action” you mean shooting a little girl in the leg, correct? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6455 "2015-10-10T16:30:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Just to be clear, by “take action” you mean shooting a little girl in the leg, correct? I mean defending himself from the dangerous animal charging him. If you think I’m defending shooting a little girl in the leg you’re mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6456 "2015-10-10T16:42:33Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I suppose he should have negotiated with the dog? I don’t see why not. I do. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6457 "2015-10-10T17:12:27Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I mean defending himself from the dangerous animal charging him. \ The cop claiming the dog was attacking him doesn’t necessarily make it so. It can be the canine version of “I thought he was reaching for a gun and feared for my safety”. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6458 "2015-10-10T20:59:00Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I thought cops were supposed to be brave. What kind of punk-ass bitch chooses to endanger the life of a child and everyone else around him just so he won’t get nipped by a dog? When you give a coward a gun, he will use it in a cowardly fashion. > [@Smapti](#): > > I mean defending himself from the dangerous animal charging him. If you think I’m defending shooting a little girl in the leg you’re mistaken. I really do assume that you are not defending the shooting of a little girl, but you are defending the reckless use of a firearm in a situation that did not warrant it. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6459 "2015-10-10T23:28:53Z")
Cowardly cop, afraid of dog, pulls gun and shoots 4-year old human girl. **Smapti** defends cop. Tell me, please, the guy’s just a troll, making fun of gun-happy Americans. Please? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6460 "2015-10-11T00:06:08Z")
I’m just surprised that there’s anyone left on the board to be amazed by the antics of our resident porcine felator. If he were walking down the street and a police car drove passed him and an officer leaned out the window and shot him, he would somehow determine that it was his own damn fault. Starting by asking the policeman what he had done and offering him/her analingus before he bled out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=322) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=324)