An undeniable double standard
Few cases illustrate so succinctly the double standard that exists between law enforcement and the general public as this one. Here's the basic summary. Police dog (German Shepherd) gets loose and wanders into a residential area, then traps a guy and his son in their car. Guy manages to get out and run into the house when the dog is focused on another part of the car. Comes back out with a loaded gun, and after the dog won't respond to his commands, shoot him once in the chest, killing him. Self-defense, and defense of a child to any normal human being and cops get away all the time with firing at dogs who are running away from them, let alone marching toward them. So, he gets convicted of animal cruelty and knowingly killing a police dog because he didn't take the chance that the dog was just confused or something.
Then you have on top of it the typical local government goons who show no sensitivity or tact in their handling of the situation:
City law director Dave Hackenberg said shortly after Flip was killed, he sent a bill to Mr. Whitman for more than $11,000 that the city paid for the dog. He said that under Ohio law, a person who shoots and kills a dog is responsible to pay for it.
"It's the statute," Mr. Hackenberg said. "I'm not saying, 'You shot our dog. You owe us.' The statute says if you shoot a dog you have to pay the value, pure and simple. We paid $11,000-plus for that dog trained. If we wanted to be real stinky about it, he's worth more than that now."
That this man, and apparently a number of people that work around him, is a jackass is self-evident. This is why I am so harsh on bureaucrats. There's no humanity here, nor any higher thought than "it's the law." So if it were the statute to condemn him to life in prison, would that be fair too, I wonder? It's nearly impossible to respect an institution that is thoroughly legalistic, so unappreciative of unpredictable, unfortunate circumstances and so merciless toward basic notions of justice. The man is facing a few years in prison. And you know what the best part is?
A pro football player donated a replacement police dog to help the local police department out.
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