Police Officer Couldn't Shoot Injured Deer

[LD1]

OK - but then how do you accept ...he handed over his gun to someone he did not know....?

I dont know. But the officer must have trusted him enough to hand him his weapon to do what needed done. So I would be inclined to trust his judgment in this case.

Again, nothing went wrong, what needed done was done. End of story IMO

 

[Jstpssng]

This seems to me like "Much ado about nothing" If guns weren't so taboo the civilian probably wouldn't have needed to borrow the officer's sidearm.

 

[DABSGT]

They have to let him go....He is in the wrong profession...If he cannot put an animal down he sure can't do it to a human being....He needs to go and I bet he does.

Brin I'm not saying it was the right decision but I know many officers and veterans who make the right decision when needed, to defend there life or another But would not be able to put down that deer. It is a different mind set.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[rsallen]

Yes, a different mind set for sure. Humanely one does not willingly sit still to watch unnecessary suffering unless one is a psychopath.
Then we have a frozen PDO willingly handing over his weapon. WHOA!
Say what???!!!!

Sounds like a wake up call to someone that needs another calling other than PD.

 

[Mace Canute]

The meat of this story isn't about who shot the deer, it's about a Police Officer handing over his gun to a stranger. If he hasn't the good judgement to know why that's an absolutely BAD thing to do he definitely should not be in that occupation. In this instance the outcome was benign but for all the cop knew at the time, he might have been handing his gun to a sociopath who could have immediately begun shooting people.

Here's a list of some of the things that characterize a sociopath. From Profile of the Sociopath

Glibness and Superficial Charm

Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

Incapacity for Love

Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.

Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.

Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Down here, it would have been a non-issue. Everybody here has a gun, and most of us carry.

 

[TripleR]

Not relevant, but there are darned few people to whom I will hand a loaded weapon.

 

[ovrszd]

I hunt and had to put a baby elk down this past spring in front of the house due to a traffic injury. Our Wildlife Officer is a friend, I called, he asked me to do the deed, I did. Very sad. With that said.....this officer should have never provided his firearm to someone else. He puts...not only himself....but his entire community at risk if something goes wrong. We're a small town....but if a local officer did something similar......I would ask for his resignation. The company who insures our city would also demand it. This is a serious liability and judgement issue.

Okay, this time I read this thread to the end before coming back to comment concerning what Jerry wrote above. I was brushcutting yesterday and thinking about this story. I'm with Jerry. If I see a local LEO do that here I will definitely attend the next council or county meeting asking for a resignation.

Some are saying "What's the big deal, nothing happened". Okay so if an act, potentially deadly, is commited and no one dies was the act okay?? Of course not. If someone commits armed robbery but doesn't shoot anyone shouldn't they be charged of a lesser charge as in simply "robbery"? Of course not.

Some are saying it's harder to shoot a poor defenseless deer than it is to shoot a human so the Officer is okay. Bull Crap!!!! Only someone who has never shot a human would even think about making that comment....

I've shot plenty of animals. Some for Sport. Some for Food. Some to end their misery. I'm over it in a very short time and look back on it as a part of being at the top of the food chain.

I've shot several humans. Some from neccessity. Some from the superior position I happen to be in at the time. Some to survive. I'm never over it and carry it every day.

Any trained, armed, professional Civil Servant or Soldier that can't put a Deer out of it's misery has no business carrying a loaded weapon.

If one of my Soldiers handed his weapon to another Soldier to do the deed I would see to it that his Soldiering career was over.

Now some are going to say being a Soldier is different than being an LEO. No it's not. The same results are expected from our society and that's a correct assumption.

Lastly, I'm with Larry. When someone is around me with a loaded weapon in their hand my entire focus is on that person until the weapon is secured or holstered.

 

[Car Doc]

If the deer wouldn't have gotten injured he wouldn't have needed to be dispatched there lets put the blame where it needs to be all better now?

 

[wedge40]

Couple of comments about the story and my own little story.
LEO shouldn't have handed his gun over. I sure wouldn't want this guy as my partner. Like Brin said he needs to find a new profession.

When I was kid we had some "city folk" move in across the road, two houses up the road they had dog that got hit by a car in front of the city folks house. Dad called the owner of dog and told him what had happened. The city folk run out with blanket and are trying to comfort the animal, at the same time owner is walking up the road with the 22 in hand. Owner put the animal out it's misery, goes home and gets the backhoe, and proceeds to bury it behind his place. Couple of days later there was even a nice cross to mark it's final resting place.

Wedge