Community Chat

[itiswhatitis]

Jury Awards Dog Owner $1.2M, Pet Shot By Cop A dog was shot twice at close range by an Anne Arundel County police officer in 2014; his owner sued police and won $1.26 million this week.

PASADENA, MD -- A Glen Burnie family was awarded over $1 million after a jury decided that an Anne Arundel County Police officer unjustly shot and killed their family dog in February 2014. Initially, after the shooting, an Anne Arundel County Police investigation cleared the officer of wrongdoing, stating that the dog was aggressive.

Cary Hansel, the attorney representing Michael Reeves, the owner of the dog, Vern, said the killing was "senseless, unnecessary and unconstitutional." The officer who shot the dog, Rodney Price, shot the dog twice at close range. "The duty to serve and protect extends to our animal family members as well," Hansel said in a prepared statement.

Office Price was investigating a burglary in the 900 block of Lombarde Circle in Pasadena on Feb. 1, 2014, when he encountered Vern, a Chesapeake Bay retriever, in the front area outside of the home.

Two months after the shooting, in April 2014,  about the loss of Vern.

“On April 26, 2014 my best friend Ches-a-bar Vernon Goldnut Reeves would have been 5 years old. He was shot and killed by a one year rookie police officer of Anne Arundel County PD(north). Vern was in his own yard at the time of the murder. I am heading home this week from Afghanistan to be with his remains and his partner Jazz. May my boy continue to swim in the Heavens of the Chesapeake! Buddy I miss you and will see you very soon.”

[Drythe]

I think so.

People learn slowly.

[hyacinth003]

Really sad.  I know I would be devastated if it was my pet.

Some people value the lives of animals and some don't.

Money wouldn't make me feel one bit better.

Hyacinth

[JillyMarie]

The need to kill needs to be contained.

[NicksmomESQ]

The dog should not have been shot.However,the amount of damages awarded was excessive. I'm pretty sure it will be significantly reduced on appeal.

[Noel7]

I have read way too many news reports of police shooting a family dog without cause.

In some areas there is no rule against it and it needs to stop.  The dogs were beloved family members.

Sometimes the only way to stop something like this is by suing and sending a message that it will no longer be tolerated.  It's just too bad the shooter wasn't punished in some way.

[sheilababe]

I think the dollar amount is crazy. I love our dogs but I would never even think about getting this amount from the taxpayers.  If the cop was wrong then he should be dealt with.  The taxpayers should not have to pay out millions for someone else's wrongdoing.

[KathyPet]

THe shooting was unwarranted but really 1.2 million?   Way excessive.  JUries have awarded way less for the killings of a human being.

[tansy]

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@Noel7 wrote:

I have read way too many news reports of police shooting a family dog without cause.

In some areas there is no rule against it and it needs to stop.  The dogs were beloved family members.

Sometimes the only way to stop something like this is by suing and sending a message that it will no longer be tolerated.  It's just too bad the shooter wasn't punished in some way.

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Exactly what I was going to say.  There have been too many cases like this.  

[itiswhatitis]

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@tansy wrote:

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@Noel7 wrote:

I have read way too many news reports of police shooting a family dog without cause.

In some areas there is no rule against it and it needs to stop.  The dogs were beloved family members.

Sometimes the only way to stop something like this is by suing and sending a message that it will no longer be tolerated.  It's just too bad the shooter wasn't punished in some way.

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Exactly what I was going to say.  There have been too many cases like this.  

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There's another one more recent in the news.  Two dogs in the confines of their backyard.  They survived with the help of a go fund me page.