North Texas Police K9 Dies After Being Left In Hot Car

reply to post by GisfridMaillor


Read my above post... Accident is NOT the same as negligence... and this K9 died of negligence.

Since you ask, I have never negligently (or even accidentally) killed an animal or person. Never even hit an animal with my car.

If You or i found the dog cooking in the cop car and You or I proceeded to smash said police car window to let it out,
What would be the outcome?
Dog attacks you
Cops charge you with destruction of state property
Awarded a bravery medal and tickets to the secret policemans ball?
beaten within inches of your life.
???

reply to post by speculativeoptimist


Texas has laws on the book when it comes to animal cruelty, however they are geard towards intentional cruelty and neglect and not accidental. Unless they have a specific law on the books as some cities / states that place a special status on animals that are used in a police function (K-9 / Horses / Drug dogs etc) he could be in violation, but it would be a stretch.

It all needs to be placed into context though instead of people just beating the rums simply because the person is an officer. Just like you guys, we arent pefect and mistakes happen.

If the officer is charged then shouldnt anyone else who accidentally performs an action that results in the, again accidental, death of an animal?

Food for thought...

Originally posted by Xcathdra
If the officer is charged then shouldnt anyone else who accidentally performs an action that results in the, again accidental, death of an animal?

Most are.

Cops dont deal with context. That's above their pay grade. They arrest and help convict.

If the situation is truly an accident the best one can hope for is for the jury to see that. Cops dont care to see it. Accident or not it's all about the arrest and helping the conviction. No context.

reply to post by thisguyrighthere


Well, yes, we do deal with context, contrary to those who have never done the job think. One of our responsibilities is to investigate crimes and submit those findings to the PA who then decides if a prosecution will occur or not. We are subpoenaed to testify as to our method along with other relevant questions.

Just like you, we can make mistakes as well. Holding somone accountable is fine, provided its not alynch mob because of a uniform being involved - on either side of the fence.

reply to post by Xcathdra

I don't know Xcathdra, the line seems fuzzy to me between accidental and neglect. If someone or animal dies as a result of forgetting they were in harms way, isn't that neglect? Isn't that the charges that would be brought up in a court of law? I am an advocate for animal safety/rights so I am for all states having laws about leaving animals in the car during hot weather., and Texas has no clear and specific law on that, as many other states do, according to the source I cited. Isn't this similar to involuntary manslaughter(recklessness or criminal negligence)?
As I opened with my first post, I am not condemning the situation because they are cops, but because the action seems to be a violation.

spec
ETA: I am not trying to ram any point home really, just expressing sadness and hope that this can be prevented in the future. I can't help but imagine the suffering the dog experienced.

reply to post by EyeHeartBigfoot
only in america

law.onecle.com...

(b) A person commits an offense if the person recklessly:

(6) injures or kills a police service animal; or
(7) engages in conduct likely to injure or kill a police service animal,

(c) An offense under this section is:

(4) a state jail felony if the person commits an
offense under Subsection (b)(6) or (7) by injuring a police service
animal or by engaging in conduct likely to injure the animal; or
(5) a felony of the third degree if the person commits
an offense under Subsection (b)(6) or (7) by killing a police
service animal or by engaging in conduct likely to kill the animal.

A good deal of Texas criminal laws provide a clause such as:
"It is a defense from prosecution in the event of ________ situation"

However this law provides no defense clause.

It will be up to a jury.

reply to post by Xcathdra

If the officer is charged then shouldnt anyone else who accidentally performs an action that results in the, again accidental, death of an animal?

It wasn't just an animal..... It was a police officer.

And who says it was an accident? There needs to be an investigation. Maybe the human cop had a reason to kill the animal cop, we don't know unless we investigate, maybe even interrogate the officer.