Husky Killed by Off-Duty Cop

[DucatiDragster]

http://dogs.about.com/b/2010/08/05/husky-killed-by-off-duty-cop.htm?r=outbrain
Husky Killed by Off-Duty Cop

Thursday August 5, 2010

On Monday evening, a pet Siberian Husky was fatally shot by an off-duty federal officer at a fenced-in dog park in Severn, MD (a town outside of Baltimore).



I found out about the tragic story this morning from a forum post on this site by member CatsRme. When I read the article in the Baltimore Sun, I could hardly believe my eyes. How could something like this happen?
Here's the gist of it: Three-year-old Husky Bear-Bear was playing at the off-leash park with the owner's brother when the officer and his wife arrived with their German Shepherd, named Asia. Bear-Bear ran over and jumped on Asia, who remained on the leash. Here's what happened next according to the Anne Arundel Police Department press release:

"The off-duty federal officer advised that he yelled for the male subject with Bear to come get his dog. According to the officer, Bear began to bite his dog. The off-duty federal officer stated he attempted to get Husky off his dog, but the Husky turned and attempted to bite him before biting his dog a second time. The off-duty officer stated that he feared for the safety of himself, his wife and their dog and subsequently shot the Huskie [sic] with a handgun he had in his possession."
​

It doesn't sit well with me. Of course the dog's guardian should have gotten Bear away from Asia, but I wonder how much time he actually had before it was too late. Did the dog really need to be shot? Was it appropriate to fire a gun in public, putting innocent people, children, and other dogs in the neighborhood at risk? The officer acted out of fear and with the intention of protecting his own, which I understand to a point. But I say he took it too far, and his actions were impulsive and irresponsible. Most dog owners know that if you try to get in the middle of dogs when they are playing rough or fighting, you are going to get bitten. Plus, when you enter an off-leash dog park, you know there is a possibility that the dogs will not all get along. Bear-Bear's owners say that their dog has never had a problem with aggression, and the owner's brother felt that the dogs were just playing roughly. Needless to say, those who knew and loved Bear-Bear are heartbroken and dismayed.
To be fair, there are often multiple sides to every story. Unfortunately, it sounds like there were no outside witnesses in this case. Additionally, news reports indicate that very little has been heard from the officer outside of the statements in the above press release. Police have not released the name of the off-duty officer, but WJLA-TV has revealed him as Keith Shephard.
Local citizens and dog lovers all over the country are outraged. A Facebook group entitled "Justice for Bear-Bear" has been started to offer support to owners Rachel and Ryan Rettaliata, and it currently has nearly 3,000 members. Soon after the shooting occurred, the case was said to be closed and the officer was cleared of any wrongdoing. Yesterday, Anne Arundel Police Chief Colonel James Teare, Sr said, "this investigation is not complete. The police department takes this incident very seriously and will continue to investigate all aspects of the case." I certain hope so. An article posted today from HometownAnnapolis.com states that "new information has prompted county police to reopen the investigation."
My deepest condolences go out to Bear-Bear's loved ones, and I hope justice is served. I plan to follow this case closely and will keep you informed as it progresses.
8/10/10 UPDATE:

The Baltimore Sun is reporting that two prosecutors have now been assigned to this case. Kimberly DiPietro, one of the prosecutors, told the Sun that they are trying to determine if the shooter was legally allowed to carry a weapon, and whether or not he violated the law by shooting Bear-Bear. There is no word yet on when this case will go to court. The federal officer who shot Bear-Bear was placed on administrative leave a few days after the incident.
8/18/10 UPDATE:


Misdemeanor charges have been filed against Keith Shepherd. According to <A href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-dog-shooting-charges-20100818,0,3122835.story">The Baltimore Sun, the charges are "animal cruelty and discharging a firearm within 100 yards of an occupied home." The public outrage continues, and the

 

[DucatiDragster]

whats your take on this? i think the cop acted tooooo quickly...

 

[Knowdafish]

I think the cop acted tooooo quickly...

Possibly, but with few witnesses, and no video the time line and the necessity to shoot the dog is sketchy.

"The off-duty officer stated that he feared for the safety of himself, his wife and their dog and subsequently shot the Huskie [sic] with a handgun he had in his possession."

It will be VERY hard to disprove that "he feared for his safety". The legality of him carrying a gun while off duty is a different matter.

 

[blacktarotannis]

Using one of those doggy parks is a risk. I have used it twice and didn't enjoy myself. You may own a well behaved dog but, you don't know about the other ones. The owner should have moved in as soon as something was said. The cops negative energy was transfered to the dogs. Didn't help the situation at all.

 

[Conner]

Using one of those doggy parks is a risk. I have used it twice and didn't enjoy myself. You may own a well behaved dog but, you don't know about the other ones. The owner should have moved in as soon as something was said. The cops negative energy was transfered to the dogs. Didn't help the situation at all.

Who says the owner wasn't running towards the dogs to intervene, but was across the yard? Without a time line or more details, there's nothing to say the owner didn't try to get there to help, but the officer acted too quickly to be stopped.

I've taken my dogs to fenced in dog parks quite often, and there are "fights" between dogs almost every day. Usually, the respective owners break it up within 30 seconds of the fight starting, and usually there's nothing more than slobbered fur to show for it. Noone pulls out guns and starts shooting! What if he had hit is own dog, or someone elses dog, or a PERSON for goodness sake?!

I think this was a knee-jerk reaction from an off-duty cop who was WAY too quick to pull a gun.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

My uncle had a mean as hell Husky. It bit numerous people while he had it including my grandfather. It was always penned up when people were visiting. According to him it never bit anyone in his family though. His excuse was that it was a one person dog. All I know was that when I was a kid and he had holiday parties at his house my dad use to remind him that if his dog got out and attacked one of us kids, my dad would shoot it dead.

 

[Madding]

Strange and sad story-

 

[Blue2Fyre]

Huskies are naturally pretty mouthy. It could have been perfectly innocent but to someone who doesn't know dogs it could have looked different. The husky was in an off leash park and the owner wasn't doing anything wrong, I think the cop over reacted. The other dog wasn't hurt and neither was the cop. If the dog had been serious about bitting there would have been an injury.

Yet another reason to never take my my dogs to the dog park.

 

[soulpatch]

You all have no idea of the size of the dog park, how far away the owner was, or anything else and thus are condemming the cop by default.

My local dog park is HUGE. We have literally taken a high power potato cannon to play catch with the dogs and really make them stretch their legs. Owners normally are around their dogs but with a park that large allows dogs to get quite a distance from their handlers.

Mind you I have a large lab/pit bull mix but he is pretty docile. My other dog is a smaller female mutt that the male will protect if a larger dog comes over and snaps at her. That being said I have only had 1 instance where a dog attacked my dogs. I gave the command for my female to get into the water (river in our dog park) so I woudl not have to worry about her and ran the 10 feet or so to my male. The other owner was no where to be found. He must have been on the other side of the park.

I proceeded to seperate the two dogs and gave my male the command to get into the water once I had the other male on the ground. My wife (hysterical at this point) wrapped our leash around the tree and we made a on the spot chocker out of the end of the lead so that the dog could not pull off and hooked him to the tree.

The other owner eventually came over to see what the ruckus was about only to see his dog strapped to a tree with a bite mark so he of course thought I had been crual and called the police. Thankfully their were other witnesses and I had damage to myself from his dog (It also goes a long way when you uncle is a cop in the next town and you are well known by the police in a good way to be a standup guy). I believe the guy was given a ticket for something or another.

I got lucky in that I did not have to draw my weapon BUT if that dog had turned its focus to me or my wife it would not be with us today. I am fully licensed to carry a concealed weapon and seeing as it is a public park it would have been fine.

That said in this instance this was an off duty officer in this instance. I imagine any weapon charges once it is cleared that he is an officer and has not had any recent issues on the force that woudl have stopped him from carrying (like a suspension) that they will be dropped. Police are allowed to carry off duty and if he felt his life was in danger then there is not much they could do to counter him without video or other witnesses.

I honestly think this is more of the media drawing up a rampage over something that perhaps was more cut and dry then they make it out to be. I relate it to when someone in Philly gets shot as they have just killed someone and decided to try to stand up to the police. The news is in their neighborhood right afterwards and everyone they talk to will tell you the guy did not have a gun, he was the nicest kid ever, and he woudl never do anything........they all shut up quickly though when the police video surfaces...

 

[Neervana]

Who says the owner wasn't running towards the dogs to intervene, but was across the yard? Without a time line or more details, there's nothing to say the owner didn't try to get there to help, but the officer acted too quickly to be stopped.

I've taken my dogs to fenced in dog parks quite often, and there are "fights" between dogs almost every day. Usually, the respective owners break it up within 30 seconds of the fight starting, and usually there's nothing more than slobbered fur to show for it. Noone pulls out guns and starts shooting! What if he had hit is own dog, or someone elses dog, or a PERSON for goodness sake?!

I think this was a knee-jerk reaction from an off-duty cop who was WAY too quick to pull a gun.

this is also my view. i hope that cop gets into trouble for what he did. if he was off duty what was he doing with a gun anyway? over here police have no right to exercise any of their authority if they're off duty.