Cop with K-9 shoots, kills pit bull

Munster, IN -- Police on Tuesday launched an investigation into a weekend shooting by an off-duty Merrillville police officer that led to the death of a neighborhood pit bull.

Detective Don Toth was assigned to investigate both the incident and the officer's actions, Police Chief Nicholas Bravos said.

The incident, which occurred in the 1st block of Deerpath Road, was reported to police at 3:35 p.m. on Saturday.

"If it's determined that he (the officer) used poor judgement he'll face the consequences through the Police Commission," Bravos said.

Operations Cmdr. Lance Huish said police Officer David DeSalle reported he was walking Rocco, a black Labrador that is part of the K-9 unit, when he heard a loud crash.

Huish said DeSalle, who lives in the Forest Hills neighborhood and was off-duty at the time, said the pit bull forced open a storm door open and ran out into the street at him and Rocco.

"He told us the pit bull got into a stance like it was going to charge and that's when he shot the dog in the back," he said.

Huish said it's the second time a dog has attacked Rocco. In a separate, unrelated incident Rocco was bitten by another neighborhood dog.

Bravos said Rocco, who was purchased by the police department about a year ago, is trained in narcotics recovery and tracking and is a passive dog, not an attack animal.

The dog's owner, Modesto Ricard III, has maintained his pit bull was only going outside to "say hello" to the officer and his police dog as they walked down the street.

He maintains the dog is not violent.

Both Huish and Bravos say a "Beware of Dog" warning sign in Ricard's window indicates another story.


http://www.thetimesonline.com/artic...e_county/089295181a84e711862570ec00043e93.txt

 

I dunno. I kind of smell something fishy. Especially since this is the second attack they were both faced with.

 

yeah i had nice dogs but you put beware of dog signs up see this is that stupid shit bsl wants all pit owners with those signs regardless of temperment see what those signs say with three simple words.

 

I would never put a "Beware of Dog" sign,,that admits dangerous dog to the legal system,,"Dog on Premisis" is what should be put up, much safer

 

Do you think that if a poodle came out of the gate the cop would have shot it?

 

NO! The cop is an idiot

 

Hmmmm, off-duty, carrying a weapon, no attempt to try a different avenue, just assumed and shot. I wonder if thats how he acts while on duty. Shoot now, ask questions later. Oh sorry, we can't. The suspect is dead. Why, he stopped and I thought he might have a gun so I shot him.

 

I've had Oscar approach people walking by the property without a problem. He runs to them, tail wagging.I'd be horrified if someone pulled out a gun- This may cause me to be more cautious about the situation

 

my grandma has a beware of dog sign at her house and all she has is a west highland terrier that you can jump at and he will piss all over him self, but it gets people out of her yard any body that comes to her house always honks their horn so she will come out to them cause they think she has a real dog

 

stupid cop scared of a dog should of just went to his car and left instead of shooting it

 

oh yeah i like that point too hes off duty walking his dog and packing hmmmmm........ must be a nice neighbor hood doesnt carry his mace or nething jst pops the dog one. id hate to lose my dog but they would hate to meet my attorney in court over this one.

 

Okay guys, this ones on me. My blues are used for this kind of work. They are passive, not used for roughness. When some pits ususally come out to greet, they will have an uncertain look, abit stand-offish. So, this cop totally took it wrong. Since, this has happened before. He needs to be retrained, himself. He shows me, he lacks in judgement towards breeds. By shooting this dog, he should be taken off K-9 duty. It seems always an off-duty cop, gets in some kind of trouble. Gun happy fool.

 

yeah,,Missy,,your right,,I never think of shootin first asking questions later,,as far as him having a gun,,his department might require him to carry one at all times,,and possilbly his life is being threatened by someone so he feels the need,,I can't imagine why cause he sounds like a nitwit