A Chandler (Phoenix, AZ) police officer who purportedly loves dogs to the extent that he even had one for a partner has been booked into the infamous Maricopa County Jail on a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty. His partner, a five year old Belgian Malinois named Bandit, would probably suggest a more grievous felony charge, if he were still alive. But he isn't. Police Sgt. Tom Lovejoy, Bandit's trusted partner, killed him. And the weapon used was gross stupidity and unwarranted neglect.
It seems that on August 11, 2007 Lovejoy put Bandit into his patrol car at aproximately 9am and then without much further thought for his loyal, intelligent and loving companion began a day of running errands, meeting friends, taking a nap and going out to dinner with his wife. By the time he next checked on the dog, shortly after 10:00pm, Bandit was splayed across the back-seat dead. Folks, we do not leave pets in cars all day even if it's Butte, Montana, Boise, Idaho or Fort Kent, Maine. And this was Phoenix. The temperature in Phoenix on August 11th was a sweltering 109 degrees! I looked it up. This heinous act of neglect and stupidity irritates me on every level. The fact that this guy has advanced to the rank of sargent has me questioning the judgement of his superiors and from there the entire Phoenix police force. Has the desert fried their minds? The fact that the officer was being paid by the public (ie public servant) while leaving his dog dying in the car that day makes me want to scream. And the aftermath is almost unsettling to me.
The commander of the investigation, the faously tough Maricopa Sheriff, Joe Arpaio gave this comment and I am quoting this from the MSNBC story: "I am certain Sgt. Lovejoy has suffered greatly from leaving his police dog in a sweltering car, I do not relish the idea of compounding his sadness." ...by having to arrest him. Suffered enough? Folks, I'm scratching my head. When asked for a comment, the accused police sargent replied: "With the sheriff raling on me right now, it's kind of hard to say anything". Well, how about at least saying sorry. Folks, now I'm scratching my head with both hands.
Let's recap by doing a little list summary.
Officer puts police canine partner in aofficial patrol car at 9am. Then proceeds to use the day and his official police vehicle to run arrands, meet friends, go to dinner, etc etc. Dog remains in car for the duration of all of this. Temperature in Phoenix that days hovers near the 110 degree mark. At 10pm said officer goes to take his partner out of the car. Investigating sheriff, known nationally for his toughness on civilians, say he hates the thought of contributing to the accused's sadness by arresting him. And the accused when asked for comments offers no words because he's busy being berrated by the sheriff. Berrated? Railed On? Give me the guys gun and his kneecap for say, 3 seconds and maybe he would be genuinely speechless or at least incoherent.
Those who know me, know I am a dog person. And lately all we're hearing about is massive cruelties being done to our canine friends. Damn these abusive freaks! And whether or not it's done through malice or sheer stupidity is of no consequence to me. These abusers need to be given severe corrective measures. Bullet to the old kneecap works for me; for a first offense.
Would you like to see a little video of the late, public serving, 'Bandit'? Then follow this link: (cute fellow)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20622619/?GT1=10357
This is Robert Burnham in San Antonio, Texas; Good-day.
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Comments: 27
I'm an activist somewhat for animal rights, animal cruelty, etc. & I just cannot stand it when I hear or see an animal being mistreated.
Since moving to East Texas I have seen more of it than anywhere else I have ever lived. I've been appaled. Just like I'm appaled at this treatment.
If the actual details of the story are exactly as you've read, then I think the loss of his job is the least the officer responsible should suffer. He should also at least get a criminal conviction for cruelty to animals, a suspended sentence with probation would be appropriate along with a fine equal to the cost of training the dog for his duties to be paid to the police department, an equal requirement to contribute the same amount to an animal shelter, community hours lecturing on the dangers of leaving any living thing in a hot car and on cruelty to animals in general. I would not impose jail time given that a cop is a target in jail and it is possible that Sgt. Lamebrain was negligent rather than intentionally cruel.
With all that said, I would like to point out that the media cannot always be counted on for accuracy. They lie and exaggerate and tell partial tales to sell papers all the time.
It is possible that the entire story would cast the offending officer in a slightly more favourable light, though I doubt it would exonerate him in the mind of any fair minded person.
Hold him accountable and charge him with a felony, he killed a valuable resource that probably has a value somewhere around $2000. or more dollars. In our state it is a felony if its over $500.00.
This urks me that an man of his stature would do such an unthinkable thing. If he was under stress how does he do his job when he is under stress? I wouldn't want him protecting me.
Blessings
Community service of that type would be an excellent idea. Plus demotion, and not to be a supervisor for sure. Fined twice the amount of the service animal sounds great.
Banit served his time for the protection of the other police officers and the public and should have been treated better.
If people want animals they need tobe held accountable.
Blessings
Blessings
Then later in the video..I noticed that parents forgot that their kids were in the car and the kids died. WTF ? How can any parent get so caught up in things that they forget that their kids are in a hot..sweltering car?
I'd like to share this story. I work in retail..and a guy showed up last night to pick up a sofa that he had previously paid for. While we were loading the sofa tinto his truck, hesaid that his 2 year old son had just spilled some nail polish remover into his eye, but the guy said that his wife told him that picking up the sofa was the #1 priorty and that they would deal with the nail polish remover that was in the kid's eye later.
WTF is wrong with people these days ?
WwW.SparkleTags.Com
So where was everyone else? Did nobody see this?
And about that law? Screw it. I'd break the window anywhere.
A lot fell through the cracks on this one. And firing the guy won't teach him a lesson or solve a single thing.
I'm disgusted.