The San Marcos, Texas police officer is getting death threats. This is after he stopped a man who was speeding and, after finding out they were rushing their dog to the vet, told him “it’s just a dog. You can get another one.”
A police officer who delayed a couple racing their dying dog to an emergency vet clinic while he wrote them a ticket has received death threats, the mayor said Thursday.
A statement issued by San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz said Officer Paul Stephens was inappropriate and insensitive and that he has been disciplined, but the threats against the officer are “extremely unfortunate.”
Narvaiz’ statement did not elaborate on the threats. She did release some new details of the incident, including that a second officer had tried to help the choking dog, a teacup poodle named Missy.
“Without question, the situation was not handled very well by Officer Stephens. But the characterization of the story has led to death threats against the officer and his family,” Narvaiz said.
Michael Gonzalez and Krystal Hernandez were allegedly driving 95 mph when Stephens pulled them over after midnight Aug. 5 on Interstate 35.
According to Narvaiz, Gonzalez first pulled over on an overpass. Using his patrol car public address system, Stephens asked him to go somewhere safer and Gonzalez drove another two miles at a “high rate of speed,” despite the officer’s lights and siren.
When he finally pulled over, Gonzalez pleaded with Stephens to let them get to the clinic.
The patrol car’s dashboard camera showed Stephens telling Gonzalez: “It’s just a dog. You can buy another one. Relax.”
[...]
Gonzalez said Tuesday he thought an oral reprimand was not sufficient.
“That’s not really a punishment at all,” he said. “I don’t feel a person like that should be working in law enforcement.”
Here’s the rest.
Personally, I don’t see why something like this should have happened in the first place. A little kindness and compassion would have been all it took for this to have a completely different outcome. I know there are many cops who would have handled this differently, it’s a shame this idiot had to be the one to stop these distraught pet owners.
Technorati Tags: animal emergency, dog, San Marcos
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Besides being a Poodle owner, I’m a volunteer with our local police department. I know how caring and sensitive police officers can be. This jerk (there are stronger words to describe him) is such an insult to all law enforcement people. He really should resign.
I have met insensitive people like this before, but I’ve never heard of a police officer be so uncaring about a precious pet! I think that situation was handled so poorly.
I agree with Jan — he should just resign. I know quite a few cops, and almost universally, they are animal lovers. I’m sure a lot of them are as pissed off as everyone else is…
ANIMAL CRUELTY: Cruel treatment also includes situations where a person has failed to act or failed to provide care for an animal. Failing to act or failing to provide care rises to the level of cruelty when it involves either: (1) failing to provide necessary food, care or shelter; or (2) unreasonably abandoning an animal.