Florida Officers Reprimanded After First Trying to Wrestle Alligator and Then Shooting It

Many are asking what it takes to get fired in the Three Central Florida police department. Deputy Keith Baughman, 39, responded to a call of a roaming alligator and promptly threw a towel on the eight-foot alligator and tried to wrestle it. When the alligator bite him, the deputies then proceeded to shot it as an animal control officer was on its way. The alligator survived and it took the animal control officer to find it and kill it.

What is interesting is that you had officers engaging in clearly dangerous and unprofessional conduct — leading to the discharging of their weapons without apparent cause (since the alligator was not attacking and an animal safety officer was on his way). The punishment, however, was merely a reprimand.

For the full story, click here.

3 Responses to “Florida Officers Reprimanded After First Trying to Wrestle Alligator and Then Shooting It”


  1. 1 Jill 1, June 19, 2008 at 5:56 pm

    “You want a piece of me?” When the gator said that to the officer, what was the officer supposed to do, ignore him?

  2. 2 Patty C 1, August 22, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    That’s your problem, Jill – you get it all backwarda…

    When the PO asked ‘You want a piece o’ me’, the alligator obliged…

    BIG mistake!


  1. 1 Religious Man Eaten After Seeking Blessing from Crocodile « JONATHAN TURLEY Trackback on 1, August 22, 2008 at 3:57 pm

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