Was police officer at the wrong house when he fatally shot Austin man’s dog?

Michael Paxton says he and his Australian cattle dog, Cisco, were playing Frisbee in his backyard when a police officer approached.

The officer, he says, pointed a gun at him and told him to put his hands in the air. That was about the time Cisco ran over and started barking at the officer, KXAN reports.

Paxton says he assured the officer that his dog would not hurt him, but when Cisco approached the officer fired, killing the dog with one shot.

The entire incident took place Saturday afternoon on Paxton’s property in Austin.

While there are reports that the officer, answering a domestic disturbance call, responded to the wrong house, Austin police would neither confirm nor deny that over the weekend, saying only that they were reviewing the incident.

Paxton and friends, meanwhile, have set up a  Justice For Cisco Facebook page that has more than 14,000 likes.

APD spokesman Anthony Hipolito said an investigation is continuing, and told the Austin American-Statesman, “Don’t believe everything you hear.”

Paxton insists the officer had no reason to question him or shoot his dog.

“He had a Taser. He had pepper spray. I don’t understand why, in broad daylight, he pulled a gun on me. I wasn’t running. I wasn’t hiding,” Paxton told ABCNews.com today. “I was just saying, ‘I live here.’ I was panicking. I was afraid for my life.”

Paxton said the officer said he was responding to report of a man choking a woman. Paxton does not have a girlfriend and believes the report came from his neighbor’s house.

Paxton said the officer did not apologize; nor did a sergeant who arrived and told Paxton the officer was within his rights to shoot the dog. Paxton said he has not heard from the police since the incident.

Posted by jwoestendiek April 16th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
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Comments

Comment from Vonnie
Time April 16, 2012 at 5:57 pm

YES, he was wrong! Regardless of the protocol that I may not know of when responding to a call, I feel that is was unnecessary to shoot someone’s dog/family member as if Cisco didn’t belong to a human being. As an APD officer or any officer, I assume he had pepper spray or a taser, but he chose to SHOOT the dog like it was a game, as if he’s been itching to shoot something.

How can we lose such a hero of an Austin Police officer, but then come across this unethical officer in the same city?

Comment from vida
Time April 16, 2012 at 6:13 pm

I would imagine that ‘neither confirm or deny’ means yes, they were at the wrong house. Having been held at gunpoint years ago on my own front porch by a police officer who mistook my house for one that had an ongoing burglary, it does happen. Now days I suppose he’d just shoot me.

Comment from Kelly
Time April 16, 2012 at 6:51 pm

heartbreaking

Comment from leiney
Time April 16, 2012 at 7:06 pm

It shouldn’t even matter if it had been the right house. It should be treated like any other police shooting. The officer should have to prove beyond a doubt that the dog was threatening his or someone’s life at the very moment he responded. This is infuriating! The dog acted like any dog would in the situation, whose owner was ignored by the police. We don’t live with our dog’s on leashes, especially on our own property. Ignorance about dogs, their instincts, loyalty, and the bonds people have with them should be changed. Much more strict laws and punishment should be enforced, so no one should get away with anything like this. If there were serious consequences to consider, hopefully many senseless losses of loved pets would be prevented. My dog is my best friend. This is tragic!!

Comment from leiney
Time April 16, 2012 at 7:20 pm

There is no doubt, the officers were walking up the driveway of the wrong house! It’s all over the news here in Austin. At least people are outraged here. I hope this makes a huge impact, so Cisco’s life makes a difference! That is what the owner is saying, since he can’t bring him back.

Comment from Cathy
Time April 17, 2012 at 8:56 am

RIP Cisco! We’ll see you over the rainbow bridge soon.

Comment from lynn
Time April 17, 2012 at 10:33 am

It is a shame that cops can try and get away with something like this. The dog did not attack him. The dog was barking at him, and he pulls a gun and shoots the poor dog. Now if it had been a “civilian” that had went in the back yard and had shot the dog, then they would be in jail. Was the cop put in jail? No, cops don’t get put in jail for shooting of dogs or people, til proved guilty. They get put on leave. Cops are no different than “civilians”. They have a job, just like everyone else. Just because they wear a badge and carry a gun, does not make them any better or different than the rest of us. Wrongful shooting should put them in jail, just as it would a “civilian”. They should have to be seen before a judge and given a bail amount, just like anyone else. It is a shame that the laws do not mean the same for cops as for “civilians”.

Comment from smoketoomuch
Time April 17, 2012 at 3:09 pm

The photo at the bottom of the article is one of the saddest images I have ever seen. RIP Cisco. The “cop” should loose his job- won’t happen, but it should.

Comment from tirani
Time April 24, 2012 at 2:38 pm

Why would someone even think about hurting an animal.Its so wrong

Comment from Wayne
Time July 29, 2012 at 9:08 pm

This officer should be fired & hung up by his #%*@ ‘s !! The owner was there and told him he wouldnt hurt him & he still shot him! That is wrong anyway you look at it. I have a Blue Heeler & they are GREAT dogs not a mean bone in there bodys. My sympathy to you Mr. Paxton the picture above breaks my heart & also angers me. That man should not be a police officer if he shoots a small dog like that because it was coming towards him. That is a normal reaction from most any dog when a stranger enters the yard even if they are barking its there job to alert there owner that there is a stranger in the yard. My dog does that & it is by no means aggressive & they should be trained to recognize that. Someone like that should not be allowed to carry a gun !

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