Do you believe that the concerned citizen only called the police and said the following?
Ah hello, I just saw some money coming out of the back of a car perhaps the man left his wallet on top, and is losing all his money.
I do not believe this is what concerned ass said. I believe he or she embellished the situation. To have the police respond as they did with weapons drawn I believe that they most likely said something to the dispatcher to have him or her send police to respond as they did.
Probably something along the lines as this:
Hello Hello?? This is Nosey Ass here. And I am sure that a robbery just took place. The station wagon just went screaming out of the gas station at a about 100 MPH. There is hundreds of dollars flying out of the back of the car. Uh I saw the whole thing happen. Hurry, hurry catch the crooks.
Of course I have no idea what was said. But IMO this person did not call and say the first statement because the police would not have reason for alarm.
Watching the film, I would have shot the mut too.
Any man with a weapon can shoot something, but using discretion and assuring your target is hostile is another. And I am not speaking of war.
As for 9-11, I have, here on base called authorities when a man left a briefcase next to the PX. Did I call them and say, A briefcase is here and a man left it on purpose. Im sure there is a bomb in it because it he wants to blow up the place.
No when I called EOD I said, A briefcase has been left unattended by the PX. Nothing further added to upset the situation.
It is my understanding that the dispatcher thought there was a robbery. I don't see anywhere from the report that the citizen who made the 911 call stating that there was a robbery. The citizen told the dispatcher that she saw a car leaving the gas station with money flying out of the car. The dispatcher ASSUMED there was a robbery.
But that's not the point. The point is the cops did the right thing to take control of the family. What the cop did wrong was he did not shut the door and called animal control to get a hold of the dog so they can conduct a search of the vehicle.
Another wrong was that the cop ASSUMED he was going to be attacked. Not all dogs attack people. What if it was a poodle instead? Would you still shoot it anyway? Judging the cop's reported history, he shot 2 dogs before and judging what he did, he'll shoot any kind of breed.
Yizuman
Edited by - Yizuman on 12 January 2003 20:59:22