The Danville police officer that shot and killed the dachshund a month ago has lost his job.
Here’s the official statement from Chief of Police Philip Broadfoot
The shooting took place on June 8th at 100 Berman Drive when a dachshund attacked Officer Murrill McLean as he was attempting to serve a warrant. The supervisor who responded to the scene did an excellent job responding to the grief of the dog’s owners, but did not properly investigate the shooting and document the evidence. The supervisor accepted McLean’s account without a detailed demonstration or explanation of how the shooting took place. A proper investigation would have shown that where Officer McLean was standing during the attack would have provided him the time, distance and means necessary to consider other options before using his firearm.
On June 10th, Deputy Chief Tom Brown raised questions about the quality of the investigation and ordered more information and pictures. The new information and pictures simply supported the original documentation. After I returned to work from my vacation on the morning of Thursday, June 11th, I used the investigation file and a personal telephone interview with Officer McLean to make my decision that the shooting was regrettable but justified under department policy.
After hearing comments in the media about bloodstain evidence at the scene that was not documented in the investigation file, I went to Berman Drive and personally looked at the scene of the shooting. My observations immediately raised questions in my mind about how the shooting actually occurred. Officer McLean could not be questioned at that time because he was out of town. Once I was able to interview him in person on June 24th, I ordered a full-scale internal affairs investigation of the entire incident.
The internal affairs investigation is now complete. The investigation determined that while Officer McLean’s fear of rabies is well founded based on several personal life experiences, his reports of how the shooting occurred were misleading and factually inaccurate. Based on these reports and a thorough review of the physical evidence, I have determined that the shooting of the dachshund did not follow department policy and was not justified. The investigation also determined that several supervisors in his chain of command did not ensure the incident was properly investigated.
As a result of the investigation, Officer McLean has been terminated from employment and disciplinary proceedings have been initiated with the supervisors for violating department policy. Because this is now a personnel matter involving discipline, I cannot give more complete details. This entire matter has been an embarrassment to the Danville Police Department, the City of Danville, and to me personally. I apologize for our failure to respond to this situation appropriately. We can do better. In fact, we regularly investigate crimes and thoroughly document the evidence. I can only conclude that this incident was not treated as the serious matter it actually was, and that attitude resulted in an incomplete and faulty investigation.
I apologize to the Harper family for the loss of their pet and pledge to them that I will make changes in our operation to ensure that nothing like this happens again. No further comments will be made concerning this matter unless new information develops.
Here’s the tough part of trying to report breaking news when I’m able to. I had this story over five days ago but my sources made it clear that it was “Not For Publication”. Oh well…
Thank you,
Wether I believe this is justice or not. I can’t imagine my husband working for a chief who has defendend him not once but twice turn around and reverse his decision to have this officer terminated. While I do believe other actions could have been taken. I find it hard for officers to trust this man for whom they work for. What kind example has he set for these officers and his department?
Something stinks here.
You stand behind the officer. Then because of the all the media attention this stupid little dog is getting you turn your back on the men you support. That is not right. Also the 2nd in command Col Brown should have went to the scene during the incident. If he did and found everying was like the officers said then why are we discussing this? Good luck Officer McLean and others.
Chief Flatfoot is incompetent and this incident highlights that fact. He was brought here as Gwaltney’s flunky but old Jer forgot to take him with him when he left.
Some action should have been taken against the officer certainly, and from the start, not after weeks of the public’s anger over the incident. Firing the officer was over-reacting just as shooting the dog was over-reacting. Perhaps an unpaid leave and some training would have sufficed?
Chief Flatfoot has shown exactly where McLean’s inclination for “shooting first, asking questions later” comes from. It comes right from the top.
I think he should change his name to Big Chief Switchfoot, he sure can change partners in the middle of a dance. Just more of the same old crap that has plagued Danville and it’s police farce for years.
jaydeebee
The firing was mostly likely due to the falsified report