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16 Comments
San Marcos officer receives threats after dog's death | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:04 PM EDT
Article Source: The Houston Chronicleadvertisement
SAN MARCOS — 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.
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- njb's Column, All of Newsvine
- Groups: Pets that are more than pets., Reigning Cats & Dogs
- Regions: Austin-TX, Houston
- Public Discussion (15)
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- Pets that are more than pets.
- Reigning Cats & Dogs
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{"commentId":2537131,"authorDomain":"njb"}
"The patrol car's dashboard camera showed Stephens telling Gonzalez: "It's just a dog. You can buy another one. Relax."
OMG--can we say jerk?
I don't agree with the treats on anyone's life--but that officer is not safe in public--gone and enraged the dog lovers. Not smart.
Wonder if the AHS will pick this story up?
{"commentId":2537131,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"njb"}
- 6 votes
#1 - Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:07 PM EDT{"commentId":2541830,"authorDomain":"ehigh123"}
{"commentId":2537364,"authorDomain":"AprilT"}
HA! Not happy about the death threats. Those need to stop, but please everyone let him know what a dreadful loser he is!!! If verbal reprimands are all he gets for this crime he committed he should get millions. You are a low level human. I hope you're children don't inherit your stupidity.
{"commentId":2537364,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"AprilT"}
- 6 votes
#2 - Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:23 PM EDT{"commentId":2537773,"authorDomain":"njb"}
Yeah--he's lucky the driver had self control. If someone told me--its just a dog, you can buy another under the same circumstances. Yikes.
Threatening his life or his family is unacceptable--I would like to see him embarrassed on national TV. Repeatedly.
{"commentId":2537773,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"njb"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2542080,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}
Not happy about the death threats. Those need to stop, but please everyone let him know what a dreadful loser
I can understand that the officer stopped the speeding man in the interest of human safety.
Still, once the officer understood the situation, his job was to help the human in distress about his dog in distress.
At that point, the officers believed the dog was already dead and Stephens issued the ticket. The incident lasted 17 minutes, Narvaiz said.
The officer is not a trained medical professional and could not have made that determination.
Many times animals look dead but still have a feint heartbeats.
In addition, they may have been able to revive the dog, if it was rushed to emergency.
{"commentId":2542080,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2542136,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}
To add:
I agree the death threats need to stop. It's not appropriate or helpful.
{"commentId":2542136,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2540115,"authorDomain":"warners"}
Thank you for the update. There is so much more actual evidence of the officers @!$%#ry in this update. I am so glad there is this update as I was wondering what had further happened. Great seed, njb.
{"commentId":2540115,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"warners"}
- 5 votes
#3 - Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:46 AM EDT{"commentId":2541652,"authorDomain":"ehigh123"}
Yes, this officer made a mistake and dog lovers need to understand that dogs are not as important to some as others. The officer did his job but needs some sensitivity training in order to see things from the perspectives of others. Some (crazy idiots) feel for their dogs like some of us feel for our children. That's fine. It takes all kinds. As a law enforcement officer of 12 years with a master's degree in the field I can think of 3 or 4 measures the officer could have taken that would have shed him and his department in a better light. He messed up. HOWEVER, those who are making death threats need to realize that what they are perpetrating is far worse than anything this officer has done. Those making threats should be found by the FBI and prosecuted accordingly for the felony they're committing. The officer did nothing criminal or in violation of any policy or law. He's being reprimanded appropriately. Sorry bout the dog but this officer does not deserve the backlash. This is proof positive of how skewed the perceptions of some can be and how off track we've gotten as a society regarding the collective use of reason and objective understanding. Had that been a pet rat there would be no uproar but there is no difference other than one is rodent and the other cannine.
{"commentId":2541652,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"ehigh123"}
#4 - Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:35 AM EDT{"commentId":2541758,"authorDomain":"ehigh123"}
Yes, the officer made a mistake. Unfortunately, police work is not one of those jobs that we can cleanse of human error. I'm sorry about the dog. As a law enforcement officer of 12 years with a Master's degree in the field I can think of at least 3 other measures the officers could have taken and, of course, I would have never made the comment about "you can buy another one". I would have thought it but not said it, lol. The fact is that many don't feel the same as some about animals. That's a fact that should be considered by all. You cannot equate a dog's death with a human death. It does not work that way in real life. The officer should be reprimanded for his comment and trained accordingly along with other officers to prevent future problems. Ultimately, the officer violated no policy because I can tell none exist for dealing with a distraut pet lover. The officer violated no laws and did nothing criminal. He was wrong but it should not cost him his job nor even a dollar of pay. You all need to put yourselves in his shoes and also consider the fact that most of you know next to nothing about real police work.
Those crazy idiots making death threats need to be found by the FBI and prosecuted to the fullest. Oprah needs to shut the hell up for once and this should go away and hopefully never happen again.
{"commentId":2541758,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"ehigh123"}
- 1 vote
#5 - Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:44 AM EDT{"commentId":2545508,"authorDomain":"hemphill"}
I think that this incident does show that the officer is quite unsuited to work in law enforcement at any level beyond that of directing traffic. Whether it should cost him his job or not depends on how the local municipality views the police's charter.
You cannot equate a dog's death with a human death.
Perhaps not legally, but I can and do value my cat's lives more than I value most people's lives. That statement quickly becomes a matter of perspective or philosophy.
{"commentId":2545508,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"hemphill"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":3646096,"authorDomain":"tms-milton"}
Well mr. 12 yeare old police office I respect your offical remarf and they are apx. coorect but incorrect as a humasn being and pet animal lover.most people with pets especial dogs and cats consider them as valuble if not more than a himan at the very least a prized famiely member. their a living breather thing just like a human and one of "GODS" delights why do you think1 he created them as for the death threatrs yes I agree with you .now to get to the nitty grrity! I'm an x- cop from the early 60's SanFrancisco AND i KNOW WHAR A "rogue" COP IS AND AN INSECURE",RAMBO TYPE",WITH A GOD like attitude.YES AS I,AGREE WITH YOU THAT SITURATION COULD OF BEEN HANDLED SEVERAL "BETTER WAYS" ,SURMISING THE IMMEDIATE ISSUE THE,"DOGS LIFE" THE OFFICER COULD OF (ESCORDED THE COUPLE TO THE VETS),HELP SAVE THE DOGS LIFE,would of become a "hero"with the community and as well as the police dept too boot, even if the dog stilled ,died, at least the officer would of did all he could of and the dept too but "NO," he (CHOSE), to "rant and rave" walking back an forth ,yelling about speeding and breaking the law instead of "helping" ,once the situation was immediatlly surmised he could of still given a ticket even thrown he in jail a couple of days,but at least a 'life' woild of been saved.(no) your not a good police officer! and certainly not (PAUL STEPHENS), that man officer was "out of "CONTROL", a rogue police officer walking around as a ,"ticking time bomb"looking for a place to "EXPLODE" he needs his badge and authority and his weapon removed, and not only serious countslling but needs to spend time in ,JAIL for his actons, (police brutality) is running "RAMPAT" across this country with every law enforcement organization and dept small to large, and peoples "RIGHTS' are being VIOLATED" on a daily basis, no mr officer of 12-years see you not a pet famiely lover either! your just another part of the "blue-law" protecting one of it's own a dirt-bag police officer out of his 'mind',from speeding his time in IRACK HE SHOULD OF BEEN GIVEN PHYCOLOGICAL TESTING MUCH OF IT BE FORE BEING ALOWED ON THE pd IN THE FIRST PLACE ,BECAUSE HIS MIND WAS NOT THE SAME COMING BACK FROM IRACK AS BEFORE HE LEFT FOR THEIR!!...I do care and appricate police officers we need them and good ones and good dept. but TODAY THAT OR THOSE DAYS ARE GONE THE "TERRORIST ARE NOT COMMING FROM WITH-OUT -"THEIR RIGHT HERE ALREADY IN OUW OWN BACK YARD (THE TERRORIT ARE OUR OWN "POLICE DEPATMENT" AND YOUR ONE OF THEM! GO TO () get educated!....(ALL) -"BAD COPS SHOUILD GO STRIGHT TO JAIL,WITH NO GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD".! PIN THAT ON YOUR BADGE MR 12-YEAR OLD POLICE OFFICE AND DON'T TELL ME I DON'T KNOW PROPER POLICE PROCEEDURE. YOUR JUST COVERING UP ONE OF YOUR OWN A DIRT-BAG ROGUE COP! WHY DON'T YOU "GET WITH THE PROGRAM" AND FIGHT AGAINST POLICE ABUSE AND BRUTALITY. "YOU' SHOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST"IF' YOUR A GOOD POLICE OFFICER! THEN WHY ARE YOPUI POTECTING THOSE THAT ARE NOT, YOU MUST BE A "DIRT-BAG" TOO!
{"commentId":3646096,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"tms-milton"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2541911,"authorDomain":"ehigh123"}
{"commentId":2542265,"authorDomain":"njb"}
I should have put a disclaimer in the 1st post that I fully intend to enforce the code of conduct.
I will not have anyone--I mean anyone calling people names on any of my threads/seeds/columns.
Saying people are idiots are telling them they are full of crap counts as inflammatory in my book--posts like that will be deleted without warning. Period.
{"commentId":2542265,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"njb"}
- 1 vote
#7 - Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:17 AM EDT{"commentId":2542825,"authorDomain":"ehigh123"}
njb-
I apologize for calling anyone an idiot. How about I just say that most that have and will post about this story are ignorant of the necessary knowledge to comment on the topic? I dd not mean to be rude. However, I was not wrong in anything I said. Sometimes the truth hurts and can be very inflammatory. So does that mean we refrain from pointing out the truth? What is wrong with pointing out the fact that nobody coming on here short of a few crazy PETA members would care about a pet other than a dog and maybe a cat? Had the pet been a rat, hamster, snake, or fish very few or nobody would care which only shows the narrow perspectives many have. Having a narrow perspective and commenting on a topic using that same narrow perspective is somewhat idiotic don't you think?
Furthermore, saying that the officer is "not safe" to be working on the streets is baseless. So how am I supposed to characterize that comment? I used the word "convoluted" in one of my deleted posts. However, that was wrong on my part as "convoluted" implies at least some degree of complexity however disorganized. I think the word "simple" would have been more applicable and appropriate.
{"commentId":2542825,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"ehigh123"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2543169,"authorDomain":"njb"}
Lets back up--the officer is getting death treats, and it seems his family is also--ergo--not a safe situation.
No one here supported the threats against that officer--that is just wrong.
I fully understand people can get heated and passionate--but we must refrain from calling people names, or engaging in other wise personal attacks. You are certainly welcome to disagree with any point raised, but we must remain respectful and on topic.
Comments like these:
think about it and realize how convoluted and full of crap most of you are...You people are idiots.
Violate the code of conduct, which applies to all of Newsvine.
Now--that being said, I do have sympathy for the nature of how hard the job is and the jerks all officers deal with daily. I understand it is rough, if not impossible to take crap from people all day and not have a bad moment, or two or four. Daily. Dealing with people in crisis daily is taxing. The stress is made worse by a functional lack of support infrastructure.
I've argued for years, that young officers need to be paired with senior officers for the 1st 3 years. It would help avoid many of the stress related and personal gaffes-for lack of a better term.
On a more personal note: don't ever tell a dog lover--its just a dog, you can buy another one...and expect not to get a strong reaction. Frankly, I like my dog better than most people I know--including some of my relatives.
{"commentId":2543169,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"njb"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2543561,"authorDomain":"warners"}
Thank you for your rational and logical head njb:)
{"commentId":2543561,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"warners"}
- 4 votes
#8 - Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:48 PM EDT{"commentId":2544364,"authorDomain":"njb"}
Thanks.
{"commentId":2544364,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"njb"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2562041,"authorDomain":"omegawolf747"}
It's what he deserves for stopping that couple from saving their beloved dog. I have no sympathy for him.
{"commentId":2562041,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"omegawolf747"}
#9 - Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:52 PM EDT{"commentId":2679399,"authorDomain":"olivershagnastey"}
The issue is were they in violation of the law, and was the officer wrong in performance of his duty?
They were speeding. He should not have made the comment.
Did there speeding put humans at risk? Probably! Should he receive additional training due to his comments? Sure, tell him "watch your comments in the future. Get back out there and patrol."
{"commentId":2679399,"threadId":"336949","contentId":"1771960","authorDomain":"olivershagnastey"}
- 1 vote
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