Woman shot by cop..."mistakes" her for deer.

Pathfinder1 · 01-04-2012, 01:05 PM

Hi...

The Boston Herald says that an off duty Mass cop shot a woman while she was walking her dogs at/after dark. He "mistook" them for deer. No internal investigation is expected.

What do you think?

wvbreamfisherman · 01-04-2012, 01:29 PM

It took me a while do dig out the story, but i think he ought to permanently lose his hunting license as a minimum, and his employer should make a determination on the record as to his fitness to carry a gun in the performance of his duties. Of course the latter thing won't happen. If he had been a civilian, I'm pretty sure he would never be able to own a firearm in Massachusetts again.

He was obviously negligent in that he didn't positively identify his target before shooting. I will give him props for actually doing his best to help the victim rather then slinking off someplace to make an anonymous call.

Bad situation caused by carelessness.

catspa · 01-04-2012, 02:01 PM

I've never hunted in Massachusetts, but here in WA deer hunting after dark is called poaching...

Parker

calanta · 01-04-2012, 02:29 PM

That is horrible to think about. We walk our dogs at night all of the time but what fool hunts that late in the day around places he knows that people may frequent? Even better he is a cop, he should totally know better.

Pathfinder1 · 01-04-2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvbreamfisherman

It took me a while do dig out the story, but i think he ought to permanently lose his hunting license as a minimum, and his employer should make a determination on the record as to his fitness to carry a gun in the performance of his duties. Of course the latter thing won't happen. If he had been a civilian, I'm pretty sure he would never be able to own a firearm in Massachusetts again.

He was obviously negligent in that he didn't positively identify his target before shooting. I will give him props for actually doing his best to help the victim rather then slinking off someplace to make an anonymous call.

Bad situation caused by carelessness.

Hi...

It would be most interesting if this story could be followed up periodically.

Pathfinder1 · 01-04-2012, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catspa

I've never hunted in Massachusetts, but here in WA deer hunting after dark is called poaching...

Parker

Hi...

Same here in NY. And I think in most other states, too.

Grandpa · 01-04-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catspa

I've never hunted in Massachusetts, but here in WA deer hunting after dark is called poaching...

Parker

1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise is poaching in Idaho as well. And if poaching a 4x4 buck, trophy class, is a felony, a human should be involuntary manslaughter at the least.

It is sad that our police and other law enforcement people are under so much stress lately (Ranger in Ranier NP) but it is also sad that I am seeing more and more "shoot first and ask questions later" from officers.

John Capano: Off-duty ATF officer shot dead trying to stop a robbery | Mail Online

This is not isolated either. Recently in SLC a shooting resulted in officers firing some 50 plus times taking down a perp in a residential neighborhood.
I can see them firing if they have a target but 49 misses? In a residential neighborhood? I don't think that is responsible law enforcement.

Ready · 01-04-2012, 03:49 PM

Just to clarify, the shooting took place shortly before 5:00 PM, Sunset was at 4:21 PM that night. So he was likely right at the cut off time, which might explain his haste. He saw the dog's white tail and mistook it for a deer which was obviously a stupid, reckless move.

Personally, I wouldn't venture on a path through the woods during hunting season without an orange vest on.

Bella Rae · 01-04-2012, 04:03 PM

This is horrible, and it seems like a lot of the times, a cops crime is looked over. Nothing against cops, because I respect that job, but this accident could have been avoided. I am always paranoid when I hear random gunshots near my house. Who knows where a stray bullet could end up!

Pathfinder1 · 01-04-2012, 06:11 PM

Hi...

New York State might have handled the matter differently (just a guess).

Yesterday, January 03, a drunk New York State Trooper...out of uniform (per recordonline.com)...while walking home from a bar...kicked in the door of a home a block away from his...and assualted the homeowner.

He was immediately suspended.

The report stated that even his attorney said he was too drunk to know what he was doing...!! He also faces crimnal charges.