Doggycide in Austin, Texas

Cisco

Yet another cop does the horrible deed where he wasn’t even supposed to be in the first place:

Apparently, unbeknown to [Michael Paxton, Cisco’s owner], there was a domestic disturbance between a male and a female in his neighborhood, and the Austin Police Dept was called in. Unfortunately (seems like such an understatement), Mike found out quickly about the call when he walked into his driveway from his back yard where he and Cisco, his Australian Sheppard, had been playing frisbee. Police officer T. Griffin, Badge #6778, was standing behind Mike’s vehicle, in his driveway. Before Mike even realized Officer Griffin was there, the officer had pulled his gun on Mike, yelling at him to freeze and put his hands up. In a panic, Mike stated to the officer that he lives there, and asked what and why this was happening.

Hearing the commotion, Cisco came from the back yard and into the driveway, barking at the officer, as any dog would do. Mike’s hands in the air, a gun pointed at him, he was afraid for his life, and therefore could not move or attempt to quiet or restrain Cisco. He told the officer that Cisco would not bite him, to please not shoot his dog. Almost immediately, a bullet was put into Cisco’s chest, killing him instantly. Mike still leaned against his truck, unable to move, was not allowed to even hold his best friend as he took the last breath of his abruptly-shortened life.

[…]

Nothing will likely happen to Officer Griffin for any of this, as his supervisor arrived after everything took place, and she defended his actions. Mike was given the officers’ information, as well as a phone number to call, if desired. No apologies, no sympathy. Nothing. The officer even told Mike that Cisco should have been on a leash! IN HIS OWN YARD?! […]

We ended up taking Cisco’s body to be buried at a friend’s house, out in the country. Four of us spent two hours digging and breaking through limestone-filled ground, to make a hole large enough to lay to rest this man’s best friend and companion.

This may just be one side of the story, but it’s nonetheless pretty much identical to every other such case we hear of. It’s quite horrifying how quick cops are to pull the trigger as a first reaction to even trivial disturbances, as opposed to situations where lethal force is actually warranted. In the mean, the source article provides some useful information for those who want to help the grieving owner and hold the Austin PD accountable.

(via @radleybalko)

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Doggycide Bingo Index

Confirmed hits:

Dead Cisco

Cop shot first

No apology

Dog was reacting (non-violently) to intruder

Supervisor dismisses shooting

Ofc. Griffin showed up at wrong address

No disciplinary action likely

Ofc. Griffin’s actions excused

Ofc. Griffin was trespassing

Cisco was only barking, not attacking

Total: 10/25
Four-in-a-row, but no bingo.

[NOTE: I meant to publish this yesterday, but I somehow didn’t notice that it was accidentally saved as a “Draft” instead. So here you go, belatedly.]

Tags: Cisco the Australian Shepherd • Michael Paxton • T. Griffin • Austin, TX • Austin Police Department • Justice for Cisco