Kinship Circle - 2008-04-17 - New Orleans Cop Fires 8 Bullets Into Beloved Dog 02

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Please refer to one of these two blog posts for updated contact info:

www.easyvegan.info/2008/04/18/kinship-circle-act-cop-fire...

www.smiteme.net/2008/04/18/business-as-usual/

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Fri, Apr 18, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Subject: CORRECTION/ Cop Fires 8 Bullets Into Beloved Dog

1. FAX NUMBERS from City Of New Orleans website for Superintendent Warren J. Riley and Orleans Parish District Attorney were incorrect. CORRECT FAX NUMBERS are inserted in original alert below (shown in RED). [Kelly's note: I have updated the original alert to include the correct fax numbers.]

2. To send Mayor Nagin comments:

-- Go to main home page: www.cityofno.com/
-- Click on: “Contact Us” at very bottom of page.
-- On Contact Us page, scroll to “Select A Department” drop-down menu.
-- Select “Mayor’s Office” and hit “Go.”
-- Your browser page will refresh, showing a security code you need to submit comments.

3. Several people have asked, but Kinship Circle does NOT know (at this time) the private email address or other contact information for Dr. Patrick Coleman, whose Doberman Jax was slaughtered by an NOPD officer.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Thu, Apr 17, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Subject: ACT/ Cop Fires 8 Bullets Into Beloved Dog

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY - PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

4/17/08: New Orleans Cop Fires 8 Bullets Into Beloved Dog

EMAIL kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net FOR WORD DOC OF A FORMATTED LETTER.
Easily modify letter and copy/paste it into an email or print out to fax or mail.

Jax, the black Doberman on the left, was shot and killed by police responding to a burglar alarm that proved to be a false alarm.
www.findinternettv.com/Video,item,302619517.aspx

========================

FULL CONTACT INFORMATION. Sample letter follows.

========================

NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Superintendent Warren J. Riley
New Orleans Police Department
715 S. Broad Street; New Orleans, LA 70ll9
ph: 504-658-5757; fax: 504-685-5775
email: (secretary to Superintendent Riley): sbbass [at] cityofno.com

ORLEANS PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Keva Landrum-Johnson, Orleans Parish District Attorney
1340 Poydras, Suite 700; New Orleans, LA 70112-6005
ph: 504-822-2414 or 504-571-2820; fax: 504-571-2909, 504-571-2846
NO EMAIL FOUND

MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS
Mayor C. Ray Nagin
New Orleans City Hall; 1300 Perdido Street; New Orleans, LA 70112
City Hall Operator: 504-658-4000; web mail: here

NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL
SAME STREET ADDRESS FOR ALL:
City Hall, 1300 Perdido Street; New Orleans, LA 70112

Arnie Fielkow, President -- AFielkow [at] cityofno.com
Room 2W40; ph: 504-658-1060; fax: 504-658-1068

Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, Vice President -- jbclarkson [at] cityofno.com
Room 2W50; ph: 504-658-1070; fax: 504-658-1077

Shelley Midura, District A -- SMidura [at] cityofno.com
Room 2W80; ph: 504-658-1010; fax: 504-658-1016

Stacy S. Head, District B -- SHead [at] cityofno.com
Room 2W10; ph: 504-658 -1020; fax: 504-658-1025

James Carter, District C -- JCarter [at] cityofno.com
Room 2W70; ph: 504-658-1030; fax: 504-658-1037

Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, District D -- CHMorrell [at] cityofno.com
Room 2W20; ph: 504-658-1040; fax: 504-658-1048

Cynthia Willard-Lewis, District E -- CWLewis [at] cityofno.com
Room 2W60; ph: 504-658-1050; fax: 504-658-1058

COPY:

Louisiana SPCA
1700 Mardi Gras Blvd.; New Orleans, Louisiana 70114
ph: 504-368-5191; fax: 504-368-3710
Ana Zorrilla, chief executive officer: Ana [at] la-spca.org
Kathryn Destreza, Director of Humane Law Enforcement: Kathryn [at] la-spca.org

========================

EMAIL BLOCK: All emails found. Some contacts have no available email.

========================

sbbass [at] cityofno.com, AFielkow [at] cityofno.com, jbclarkson [at] cityofno.com, SMidura [at] cityofno.com, SHead [at] cityofno.com, JCarter [at] cityofno.com, CHMorrell [at] cityofno.com, CWLewis [at] cityofno.com

Cc: Ana [at] la-spca.org, Kathryn [at] la-spca.org

Mayor web mail: here

*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee validity of email addresses. During campaigns, recipients may change or disable their email addresses. Emails from government, corporate, or institute websites may be incorrect.

========================

SAMPLE LETTER -- This letter is prepared to inform you about the issue.
Try to shorten and personalize your letter before sending.

========================

New Orleans Police Department, District Attorney, Mayor and City Council:

I am shocked by the actions of the New Orleans Police Department in the April 14 shooting death of a dog in his fenced backyard. While canvassing a Lakeview residence after a security alarm accidentally activated, an NOPD officer fired eight bullets into Jax, a 4-year-old Doberman Pinscher still wobbly from recent spinal surgery.

A neighbor phoned Dr. Patrick Coleman, who raced home from work to find Jax crumpled in his backyard. Jax's sister Scarlett trembled nearby as Coleman, a dermatologist with prior trauma training, tried to plug gaping holes in Jax's head. As Coleman administered CPR, officers ordered him to "control" Scarlett. These officers not only failed to assist with life-saving measures, they actually interrupted resuscitation so Coleman could lock Scarlett in an upstairs room. Some officers reportedly laughed as Coleman cradled his bloody dog in a front doorway.

Officers at the scene never interviewed Coleman and swiftly confiscated all shell casings. Their diverse accounts of the incident fluctuate from Scarlett lunging to Jax lunging. Veterinarian Rose Lemarie claims the surgery Jax underwent six weeks prior to his death left him incapable of lunging or charging.

Please equip New Orleans police officers with the knowledge to neutralize animals perceived as aggressive -- without resorting to lethal force. I encourage NOPD to learn skills to distinguish anxiety, fear, and protective canine behaviors from genuinely hostile behavior.

Jax likely barked or growled as any dog would in reaction to unfamiliar men on his turf. If officers felt threatened, why were no warning shots, chemical sprays, batons, or other deterrents tried first?

Furthermore, I call upon Superintendent Reilly to conduct an unbiased internal investigation. I understand no disciplinary actions -- even reassignment to administrative duties or suspension from the force -- have been taken. Clearly, a post-surgical dog known as friendly and docile to family and neighbors did not legitimately endanger armed men. If evidence uncovered during an investigation warrants animal cruelty charges, I urge authorities to arrest and prosecute Jax's killer.

In light of the global outrage over post-Katrina dog shootings in St. Bernard Parish streets and schools, it is imperative law enforcers recognize the gravity of animal cruelty crimes and establish a better precedent for punishing them. ALL offenders, even police officers, must be subject to criminal investigation and penalties commensurate with their actions.

An ironic footnote to this tragedy is that Coleman had installed an alarm, in part, to safeguard his companion animals. Instead, a police officer emptied his handgun's clip into one of them. The shooter's vicious reflex suggests an utter lack of judgment in volatile situations.

Please inform me of any progress in this very disturbing case.

Thank you,

========================

SOURCE OF INFORMATION / REFERENCE LINKS

========================

VIDEO/ Police shoot dog in Lakeview backyard
www.wwltv.com/video/
www.findinternettv.com/Video,item,302619517.aspx

Doctor Demands Answers For Dead Dog
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24166327/

Controversy over dog shooting escalates
www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl041608jbdog.6d2ff0e0.html

Dog Shot By Officer Dies In Owner's Arms
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24126720/

Humane Society Of Louisiana
www.humanela.org/

PETITION: New Orleanians for a Pet Savvy Police Force
www.thepetitionsite.com/1/NewOrleaniansforaPet-SavvyPolic...

*****************

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info [at] kinshipcircle.org or kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
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*****************

*DISCLAIMER: The information in these alerts is verified with the original source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing in this email is intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment or unlawful activity. Nothing in this alert serves to promote such conduct.

-------------------------

UPDATE, 5/11/08:

Excerpted from Kinship Circle: [GULF COAST] On The Streets, Since Katrina

RE: 4/17/08 - NEW ORLEANS COP FIRES 8 BULLETS INTO BELOVED DOG

www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter_new.asp?Lette...

KINSHIP CIRCLE received the “thank you” below from Dr. Patrick Coleman, the Lakeview, New Orleans resident whose dog Jax was needlessly slaughtered by police in his fenced backyard.

From: Patrick Coleman, wpcoleman [at] gmail.com
Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 / Subject: Thank you Re: Jax

Thank you so much for the information posted regarding Jax, my 4 year old Doberman, who was shot and killed by a police officer responding to a false burglary alarm at my home on April 14, 2008. With so many people writing letters, blogging, posting… I only hope that his death brings about change as his life did for myself and everyone who met him.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart in memory of Jax, Patrick

W. Patrick Coleman IV, M.D. / 4425 Conlin Street; Metairie, LA 70006
Office: 504-455-3180; Fax: 504-885-2512

Comments

	Elaine Vigneault says: Thanks for posting this! I responded with a letter to Mayor Nagin, using some of the sample text you've provided above. Here it is: Dear Mayor Nagin, CC New Orleans Police Department, District Attorney, Mayor and City Council and whomever this may concern: I was shocked to learn that the New Orleans police shot and killed a defenseless dog on April 14, 2008 in Lakeview. As you likely know by now, the dog, Jax, was weak and defenseless due to a recent spinal surgery. I am angered and saddened to learn that these police officers not only failed to assist with life-saving measures of the dog, Jax, by his owner Dr. Coleman, the police interrupted resuscitation and demanded that Coleman restrict his other dog, Scarlett. Jax likely barked or growled as any dog would in reaction to unfamiliar men on his turf. If officers felt threatened, why were no warning shots, chemical sprays, batons, or other deterrents tried first? Please equip New Orleans police officers with the knowledge to neutralize animals perceived as aggressive without resorting to lethal force. I encourage NOPD to learn skills to distinguish anxiety, fear, and protective canine behaviors from genuinely hostile behavior. There is a world of difference. Please conduct an unbiased internal investigation. Clearly, a post-surgical dog known as friendly and docile to family and neighbors did not legitimately endanger armed men. If evidence uncovered during an investigation warrants animal cruelty charges, I urge authorities to arrest and prosecute Jax’s killer. In light of the global outrage over post-Katrina dog shootings in St. Bernard Parish streets and schools, it is imperative law enforcers recognize the gravity of animal cruelty crimes and establish a better precedent for punishing them. ALL offenders, even police officers, must be subject to criminal investigation and penalties commensurate with their actions. Animal cruelty goes hand-in-hand with violence against humans. Please acknowledge that unwarranted lethal force used on a defenseless dog is a sign of serious violent behavior and must be corrected immediately. Police officers who display this kind of violence do not represent the city well, for they are a danger to both animals and people. Sincerely, Elaine Vigneault (semi-regular Mardi Gras NOLA tourist whose husband grew up in New Orleans and whose parents-in-law lost their homes to levee failure after Katrina) Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )
	majorlagg says: The dog owner instaleed an alarm that would summon the police. After irresponsibly failing to prevent the dogs from setting the alarm off, he allowed the dogs to access a yard that anyone could enter. When the police entered the yard, one that the resident knew the police would check, the dog charged the officer who took the only course of action available. Regrettable but the fault lies with the resident. If he didn't want the police to check his yard, he shouldn't have a monitored alarm. Or he could have a warning sign on his gate. Or he could have locked the dogs up. Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )
	smiteme says: majorlagg - The officer at first stated that Jax - the dog he shot - charged him. Problem is, Jax had recently undergone surgery and, according to his vet, Jax was incapable of charging ANYONE. When that became apparent, the officer changed his story to say that the female dog, Scarlet charged him. Curiously, Scarlet was not shot. Other aspects of the officers' stories don't add up, either; read the reports. Either way, officers are woefully undertrained and unprepared to deal with animals, aggressive or otherwise. Just as there are ways to neutralize people without KILLING them, so too are there ways to control animals. Trouble is, animals are viewed as property and not worth the trouble. Not to mention, we can't even trust some police to act civilly towards people, ferchrissakes! (ahemseanbellahem) And, duh, you get an alarm to PROTECT your home and property; by installing a burglar alarm, I'm not giving police license to come onto my property, shoot first and ask questions later. The dogs were in control, on their own property. They should never have been shot. If the cops felt threatened by the animals, they could have called animal control to restrain the animals. But they didn't. The police in this case acted unprofessionally at best, criminal at worst. They should be fired and/or charged with animal cruelty. Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )
	smiteme says: Oh, wait. I see from your profile that you're a Deputy sheriff for a suburb of New Orlleans. Nevermind. I doubt any amount of reasoning will cut through your agenda. Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

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Kinship Circle - 2008-04-17 - New Orleans Cop Fires 8 Bullets Into Beloved Dog 02

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Elaine Vigneault says:

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