Doggycide in Gates, New York

In which today’s victim becomes the second to lose its life to the trigger-happy police of Rochester County, New York in less than a month:

Around 10:00 a.m. on Monday June 25, 2012, Jerome Johnson was in his home on Crestwood Blvd. in the Town of Gates, a suburb just outside Rochester, N.Y. when he heard “Chino”, his 3 year old American Bull Mastiff barking.

As Jerome’s son Jerome Jr., went out to check on the family’s dog, who was in the yard, Jerome Johnson and his wife heard what he described as a loud “Pow!” sound.

Jerome Johnson and his wife ran outside to find Gates N.Y Police officer James Coughlin with his gun in his hand and their beautiful dog “Chino” laying in a pool of his own blood with a gunshot wound to his left side.

When Jerome Johnson asked Gates, N.Y. police officer James Coughlin why he had just shot their dog, Coughlin replied “We don’t pepper spray, we shoot if we feel threatened.”

At this time Gates, N.Y. Police Sgt. Anthony S. Perry arrived at the scene. As Jerome Johnson and his wife who were consoling their son after he had just witnessed “Chino” being shot in front of him, Sgt. Perry told the family “I’ve shot 12 dogs before, it is what it is.” and smirked.

Exactly what is the point of having pepper-spray if they aren’t prepared to use it in lieu of lethal force?

Chino had to be put down by a vet as a result of his injuries. It turns out the incident was caused when a fuckheaded neighbor made a false 911 call that the dog was running loose, when it was in fact safely in its own yard. Here’s hoping they and the police department get the grins collectively sued off their faces.

(via @radleybalko)

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Doggycide Bingo Index

Confirmed hits:

Dead Chino

Ofc. Coughlin shot first (explicitly defended non-use of pepper-spray)

No apology offered

Sgt. Perry glibly dismissed dog shootings

Usual excuses that dog was dangerous

Total: 5/25
Bonus point for asshole vindictive neighbor. No bingo.

Tags: Chino the American Bull Mastiff • Gates, NY • Rochester County, NY • James Coughlin • Gates Police Department • Anthony Perry • Jerome Johnson