We have been following a growing trend of alleged unjustified shootings of pet dogs by police officers. We can now add a case out of Chicago where a 7-month-old miniature bull terrier, called “The Colonel” by neighbors, was shot by a police officer. A lawsuit names Officer Brandon Pettigrew as the cop who twice shot The Colonel, which weighs less than 30 pounds. According to witnesses, the officer then calmly returned to writing the ticket and handed it to the distraught owner. The police returned three days later, according to media reports, and asked why the owners were speaking to the media . . . and proceeded to give them a ticket for having a dog off a leash.
The incident happened near my family’s house on the north side of Chicago.
On Saturday afternoon, witnesses say that the Colonel followed his owner outside of the owner’s gated home where the officer was writing a parking ticket for the van of Al Phillips. According to witnesses, the officer warned him about having a dog without a leash twice and then proceeded to shoot the puppy twice. Witnesses say the puppy was not threatening the officer, who then proceeded to finish his ticket and give it to a distraught Phillips.
The Colonel was rushed to an emergency vet and had five hours of surgery to save his life.
What is incredible is that the police returned later to the scene while Phillips was speaking with a reporter and demanded to know why he contacted the media. According to the report, they then gave him a ticket for not keeping his dog on a leash.
That was three days after the incident.
The ticket deepens the controversy. I have never heard of a leash ticket being written three days after such a common occurrence. I walk our dog in Chicago regularly during holidays and often see dogs off the leash. The ticket raises concerns of retaliation. It was entirely inappropriate for the officers to ask for an explanation of why the family was speaking to the media, if this is found to have occurred. The presence of a reporter adds credence to the allegation. To then combine such an improper question with a ticket only magnifies the misconduct.
Even if the ticket was not retaliation for embarrassing the CPD, it seems calculated to cover the officer for the shooting by citing the owner after-the-fact. Unfortunately, Cook County Anita Alvarez is not viewed as particularly protective of citizens in confrontations with the police.
The lawsuit is likely to get more information and action than official channels, unfortunately. Among other things, it could allow for discovery not only on the incident but the governing policies of the CPD.
Source: CBS
“I’m amazed Detroit didn’t make this list.” (nick)
That’s because nobody makes it out of Detroit to report.
Wow.
Well, you were right about one thing, nick.
You shouldn’t be proud of that.
Also, you can’t say corruption isn’t a partisan issue and then claim “Our cities are failing because of many reasons. But, at the top of the list is the entrenched machine Dems who take care of the white businesses and communities and sh!t on the black community.”
Unless you just enjoy self-contradiction.
And thanks for telling us all what we know. Actually, the main campus is in Champaign-Urbana. And UIC is a well respected branch.
SWM. Wow! You really are Old Faithful.
Gene, I’ve lived in Chicago, only visited NO. However, like you, I would much rather live in Chicago for reasons I’m not proud, but honest enough to admit. Here’s the reason. There is a “Black Chicago” and a “White Chicago.” I lived in “White” but worked a lot in “Black” Chicago. It’s hard for Dems to accept but the entrenched Dem power structure is white and quite racist. When I lived in Chicago I had the honor to vote for Harold Washington. Usually, the Dem primary is dispostive for the mayoral race. Harold beat the bloated, alcoholic, Jane Byrne machine Dem in the primary. My precinct captain[I lived in the 2100 block of Waveland] was a Bryne operative. He was @ our house 2-3 times a week prior to the primary, giving us cookies, wine, and cheese. When Byrne lost, we never saw a Dem operative again. Bernie Epton was the pathetic Repub, candidate for the mayor of Chicago against Harold. He happened to be a partner in one of the rival insurance defense firms of my employer, Clausen Miller. Bernie Epton was a buffon. However, for the first time in generations, a Republican mayor was almost elected in Chicago. I voted for a second time for Harold in the general but the vast majority of his voters were black..The city of Chicago is a racist, segregated, lilly white machine. When I visit Chicago I stay on the Magnificent Mile. As I’ve written recently, when there are crimes in “White” Chicago there is immediate response. I know I’m pretty safe when I stay in “White” Chicago. Since I no longer work there, I stay in “White” Chicago.
I am digusted by idealogues here and elsewhere who deny the basic truth. Our cities are failing because of many reasons. But, at the top of the list is the entrenched machine Dems who take care of the white businesses and communities and sh!t on the black community. The sanctimonious, paternalistic folks here who defend this are part of the problem. Chicago is like East and West Berlin. The wall is not visible, but quite real.
shano,
Probably both. Killing animals for fun is a noted precursor behavior for serial killers. Anyone who would shoot a small dog with such careless disregard is only a small step away from expanding their cruelty to two-legged beings.
Not sure if this criminal dog killer gets more thrill from killing or from seeing people traumatized and unable to retaliate..
Where you want to put Chicago is your business, nick. However, it would be unwise to think I am unfamiliar with Chicago. I’ve been there so many times I would hazard to count them. However, I did live in NO for five years and like Chicago have been going there for various reasons my entire life.
I don’t have to grant you anything. Agreement is not required.
I don’t think there is a single city in the United States as corrupt overall as New Orleans, including their police, with the possible exception of Washington, D.C. I’d rather live in Chicago than NO any day.
The University of illinois is a very good university. The main campus is in Champaign. The Chicago campus called UIC is adequate.
MikeS, I don’t do links. I gave a link once that I believed to be legit. It was infected w/ a nasty virus that crashed my, and other computers who linked to it. I felt horrible and vowed to never make the same mistake twice. Just Google most corrupt US cities for chrissake. UIC is a very good university. Ask rafflaw if you don’t trust me.
Nick,
I don’t do trusting somebodies sources that serve their arguments without investigating the source material. I hope in your PI work you are more careful, than in yourcomments.
Gene, I hope I don’t offend you by agreeing w/ virtually everything you’ve said in your last several comments. I repeat, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” You’re much more acquainted w/ NO police, I w/ Chicago. Maybe New Orleans belongs in the top 5, but I have to put Chicago @ #1. I have only been to NO twice, and have no sources there. I do know from reading the local paper since I got to know a local chef who owns NO Takeout in Madison in 1988, just how blatant NO cops are. He has the Times Picauyune on his counter to read when you wait for his great Po Boy’s[crawfish in season!], jambalya, dirty rice, etc. He was a sous chef in NO for 20 years. John is a gadfly and very intelligent. He has many stories about NO cops. So, w/ you and he, I’ll grant you admission to the top 5. But..Chicago HAS to be #1. Please grant me that.
Unless and until we are willing to pay for better-educated, more highly
trained LEOs, we can expect more and more sociopaths protecting and participating in causing pain to animals and those of us who love them.
No. It’s not. If corruption wasn’t a bi-partisan problem, impeachment wouldn’t have been off the table. Ever. For anyone.
Corruption at both the political and the LE levels of governance is systemic. Which party is in charge makes no difference at all. Each will sell out to different interests on the political level. Same corruption, slightly different masters. And it is rooted in campaign finance and lobbying which are little more than formalized graft at this point.
As for LE? That’s a different kind of corruption that has more to do with the “us vs. them” attitude prevalent in LE and the increasing militarization of LE. The police increasingly work for themselves and the elites who control their budgets instead of serving and protecting the populace.
A retired NYC detective talking about police misconduct (I love this film):
Gene H, Sometimes it is partisan…….
Which does not change that corruption is a systemic, not a partisan, problem.
Gene, When I lived in Chicago, there were reform democrats. Rahm beat the more reform minded democrats in the primary.
The real issue here though is do you want a guy who would shoot a 30# dog and then return to terrorize the victims to have a gun and a badge in any area of law enforcement?
The answer can only be no unless you’re a psychopath.
ap, When I first met my husband he told me that the red squad had taken pictures of him at an anti-war demonstration at the University of Chicago. I was impressed.lol
Size matters in holistic partisan divides, Smom. I recently saw an article on that very subject that was predicting much future disaster for the GOP as the populace increasingly urbanizes. However, corruption is ultimately a systemic problem, not a partisan problem.