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Dog Shooting Press Conference
Danville Police Chief Phillip Broadfoot held a press conference to address the shooting of an 11-year-old dachshund on Monday.
Traci White
Danville Police Chief Phillip Broadfoot address the media Thursday inside City Counsel Chambers at the Municipal Building during a newsconference regarding the shooting of a miniature dachshund named Killer on Monday.
At a news conference Thursday, Danville Police Chief Philip Broadfoot said he regretted that a miniature dachshund was shot and killed, but he did not regret Officer Murrill McLean’s decision-making process that led to the dog’s death.
“The fact of the matter is that the dog was running loose, that it placed officer McLean in a precarious situation, and that officer McLean made a judgment decision in a fraction of a second that cannot be re-versed,” Broadfoot said. “I’m not expressing regret over the decision.”
The news conference was the result of a Monday incident involving a Danville police officer and the miniature dachshund named Killer. Broadfoot revisited the incident as he read a prepared statement during the news conference.
He said that McLean went to the 100 block of Berman Drive to serve warrants at about 8:50 p.m. Monday. The 11-year-old dog owned by neighbors next door approached the officer aggressively, showing its teeth and growling, he said. That type of behavior is characteristic of a dog with rabies, Broadfoot said.
When the dog lunged at McLean, he drew his pistol and fired one shot, hitting and killing the dog.
“I don’t think he overreacted,” Broadfoot said. “I think he reacted based on the information he had at the time.”
Broadfoot said that no disciplinary action would be taken against McLean. A Wednesday news release stated that McLean acted within department policy. Broadfoot said that the department would hold internal discussions to prepare for similar situations, but policy wouldn’t fundamentally change.
“There is no way any police department anywhere in the U.S. will change a policy that says an officer has the right to defend themselves,” he said.
Broadfoot said the delay between the time of the shooting and the department’s acknowledgement was due to a vacation he was on from Monday to Wednesday. During the vacation, he didn’t have access to e-mail.
Danville has a leash law that requires dogs to be on a leash when off the owner’s property, Broadfoot added. Killer was not on his owner’s property Monday night at the time of the shooting.
The community reaction did not surprise the police chief, he said.
“I’m appreciative of the fact that the community is so caring,” Broadfoot said. “Anything that makes us think closely about what we are going to do with deadly force is always a good thing.”
McLean joined the Danville Police Department in 2005. Since then, he has never had a disciplinary violation, Broadfoot said. McLean also is a staff sergeant in the Virginia National Guard with more than 14 years of military service, including a tour in Iraq.
“Officer McLean is no stranger to challenges, to adversity, to managing fear or to rational decision-making,” Broadfoot said. “Any attempt to characterize him as reckless is inconsistent with his proven record of responsible behavior.”
Reader Reactions
Thank You so much “In The Spirit”.You’re a very “WISE” person!
I think it’s time we heard something ( Mr Tomer,Mr Sunders,& Mr Lacy) about this Mclean a large grown policeman shooting and killing this tiny little dachshund for “NO GOOD REASON”! Except for him being a “COWARD”. Justice should be done and Mclean should be held accountable for what he’s done! He shouldn’t ever be able to carry a GUN PERIOD! Give him a desk job or even better get that man(if you want to call him one) OFF THE FORCE! I don’t want someone that trigger happy or cowardly in my neighborhood around our pets & chidren! He’s a disgrace to the people of Danville! And Broadfoot is too for agreeing with his COWARDLY ACTIONS! BIG MAN, BIG GUN ,LITTLE ITTY BITTY DACHSHUND!!!You’re really bad , ain’t cha McLean & Broadfoot too! Just look at what kind of men we have here serving at the DPD!!!! (Like I said if you want to call these 2 men) It’d be great if they BOTH we replaced!!!! They’re 2 grown men that think it’s okay to go around killing our little pet dogs!And then making up lies(rabies) about this little dog being life threatening to Mclean! Oh My GOSH!!!!! Mclean & Broadfoot you’re both , nothing but a BIG joke! Grow Up!The officers that caught the 2 guys at BB&T Bank could show you both how to handle a little 12# 11 year old Dachshund without shooting it & killing it! Those officers can teach you bravery! They got 2 grown men without shooting & killing them. And they were in a life threatening situation! No shooting no killing! You both could learn a lot from these Brave officers!!!!!
I need to say to InTheSpirit, You Sir are the only one here that seems to have all of the common sense reguarding this sad circumstance. I too have a ankle biter, and if I were to walk fast, she wouldn’t be able to keep up (LOL). I have read all of the opions here and was at first, amused, then it got kinda sickening. until InTheSpirit came thru..Thanks so much for making the most sense.
Agreed! If the cop just wanted to show the people he should have just given them a ticket, but No, he had to be a Bully. Of course the chief will agree with him, he is trying to avoid a law suit. But hey I guess they showed those folks.
InTheSpirit- thank you for your sensible words. Control and discipline are key when handling firearms.
Rockit, well we all found out there is a heart behind that mean rude hateful exterior of yours. Like I said I have 5 dachshunds,1 lab , 1 jack,2 toy poodles,1 macaw, 1 cherry headed conure and 2 ferrets! And now a cat that’s been comming around.I love all animals! I love ALL dogs big or small! I’ve had chows, huskies,Poms, etc.From the largest to the smallest! I’ve had each one till they died of old age or sickness. One of the last ones I lost had breast cancer. She lost one or 2 of her breast at a time. We did every thing we could to keep her alive. Until she started sufferng then we had to put her down.My babies come first in our life! They get “everything” they need and more! I would justify the officer defending him self 100% “if he had something to defend his self from” ! A dachshund just doesn’t do it! Isn’t that kind of a threat! I had a 3 lb teacup poodle and a sheriff came to my house and the poodle growled, barked and showed her few teeth at the sheriff and went up to his shoe.Grabbed his shoelace! He looked at her and “laughed!“ “Adorable!“ Thank God it wasn’t “Mclean” there. We all know what he would have done!I never would let my dogs run loose. But one time one of them dashed out the front door when I opened it and ran out into the street and I was right behind her. A car was comming and if she had got hit I would have too.I NEVER said they weren’t wrong for letting the dog run loose. “YES” they were “Wrong!“ But the dog “shouldn’t have been shot because it was loose”!! Oh and you can keep your gold star! Thanks anyway! Awful sweet of you ! But I’ve got enough gold stars to last me a life time. “My babies!“ It’s a shame you’ll never know or experience the love a small dog gives. Or any dog! A Dachshund is like potato chips. You can’t have just one. After I got my first one that did it. That’s why I have 5 now.I adopted 4 of my dogs from the Humane Society. 3 of them were dachshunds from that West Va. puppy mill!I love them as much as if I’d had them all their life.I wouldn’t take a million dollars for one of my babies! I still feel for those children and the family!And most of all that tiny dog shot to DEATH for no good reason!I did cry for that tiny little dog and still do at times! And I’,m not ashamed to admitted it! Call me what you want to!
It’s obvious that nothing one side or the other has to say is going to sway the other side. Thank goodness we live in a country where we are free to argue back and forth, give our opinions freely, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. For now, at least.
luv dachshunds
You’re absolutely correct (give yourself a gold star). I don’t know what dapple means. I know it has something to do with the color or shade of a dachshund; but, I’d really have to look it up. I’m not a small dog kind of guy, I’m more into Alaskan Huskies and Chocolate Labs. You love dogs. Good for you. So do I. Now what does that have to do with anything? The question here is was this police officer justified in defending himself? Some of us believe he was. Some of us believe that if there is a threat of being bitten by an animal, any means of defense is acceptable. We also think it is terribly unfair that the owners of this dog are being given a pass be many of you. Had the dog been on a leash or in the alternative, had one of the owners been outside with the dog, this incident would never have happened. Even if I were to say the officer overreacted, the fact remains it was the clear negligence of this dog’s owners that led to it’s death.
Grim, my “little trash problem” is actually 2 acres of toxic chemicals illegally buried where runoff runs direclty into the C of D. I think you might have been drinking it, judging by the comments you have made. You make comparisons that make no sense. If the dog had charged a child, it should be killed, chi wa wa, dachshund, or great dane. But it wasn’t the case. This bad old dog was a 12 pound miniature dog that could not have bit through the officers required boots, period. Couldn’t happen. But it doesn’t matter, the big bad cop shot the tiny animal in a residential area where he was not really threatened. Remember, the dogs small teeth could not bite through his boots. But he sure neutralized the threat. That is a fact. Next time it might not be a dog. Remember, I didn’t ever say the cop should be fired. Just reassigned to a position that he can handle, so he doesn’t snap again. But since he is heading back to Iraq, none of this matters. That is a position that I admire, honestly. His composure is better fitted for combat than civilian police duty. He sure showed that with this incident. That’s a fact.
Rockit, you’re the only “FREAK” HERE!Not DOGS! I have 5 dachshunds! I agree with silverdapplebnt.I’ll bet you don’t even know what dapple means! My dogs are sweet, loving and kind little people with fur. All dogs run and play and even growl when they play! Shame you won’t ever experence the love that comes from one of these precious babies! I feel sorry for you in that way! Like I said you can tell you know absolutley nothing about animals period! And as far as you staying on here all day long well you must be awful boring! Trying to play head games with people back & forth.I’ve said what I think of the way you keep trying to push buttons. Play your game with others. You’re not worth my time! Nor much of anyone elses time once they hear from you a couple of times.This isn’t about you! It’s about a little dog that was shot and killed for no reason but the cowardly actions of a policeofficer! Go join some dating service for old people so you will have something to do!! Seems like you’re all MOUTH!
silverdapplebnt:
How can you tell me to get a life (LOL)? You don’t even know me that well yet. Wait ‘til we spend a couple of days going back and forth on here then judge me. Who knows, you just may like me! And me, I been looking for a mountain girl. We could be a perfect match. (I’d have to get beyond that McCain thing, but in time I’m sure I could).
You have a lot of experience with dogs. Good for you. Some of us don’t. I’m not sure that makes us bad people; but, whether it does or not is irrelevant when it comes to dealing with an aggressive, and possibly rabied animal. Let me do like some other people on this subject and turn it on its side. People like to say, “oh my goodness, what if that had been a small child instead of a dog.“ Swing that door the other way. What if that dog had been charging a toddler, or even an infant? In that situation is deadly force authorized? (And remember, the dog’s dedicated, adoring, caring, owners were no where to be found) Of course it would have been authorized when defending a child. And since we’re talking about an animal here, deadly force is always acceptable against an animal if there is a threat of the animal biting you. I mean, come on, it’s not like the old days when we’d bury dogs up to their heads and run over them with lawn mowers. (Alert, alert, that’s some of that “satire” coming through).
I admire your passion and respect your concern. But, we’re talking about a freakin dog here. Get over it. Life’s too short to worry about this trivial stuff.
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