Richmond man: Police officer too distraught to kill wounded deer, offered firearm to civilian

[The Straight Story]

Richmond (IN) police said this week an investigation is ongoing into the reported incident, which Jerry Anderson said took place Saturday in front of his home in the 1500 block of Chester Boulevard. A report from RPD indicates an officer did respond to an accident involving a deer just before 10 a.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of Chester Boulevard.

Anderson said the officer arrived at the scene after a young woman had struck the deer in an accident on Chester Boulevard. Anderson said the deer was injured badly, was suffering and needed to be shot. He said a small group of people had gathered at the scene.

Anderson said he had gone inside his home to retrieve his pistol to shoot the deer and was surprised to find someone else in the act of shooting the animal.

“I went inside to get my gun, and when I came out, my wife told me that (the officer) said he couldn’t do it,” Anderson said. “She said he had tears in his eyes, and he handed his gun to a stranger — his loaded gun.

“There were 10 to 12 people standing around, and there were two big guys there. One of them said they had a permit in Ohio, but they didn’t have it with them, and (the officer) gave his weapon to (the man) to shoot the deer. You should never hand your weapon to a person in a crowd.”

http://www.indystar.com/viewart/20130628/NEWS/306280048/Richmond-man-Police-officer-too-distraught-kill-wounded-deer-offered-firearm-civilian

[sibelian]

1. Pffffffffffffffffffffff.

Well, I can say he was wrong to do it. I don't know if I can FEEL he was wrong to do it.

[NaturalHigh]

2. I've had to put down an injured animal before.

It is pretty traumatic, even though it has to be done.

[msongs]

3. the issue is not killing the deer, believe it or not nt

[sibelian]

5. What would you say the issue is?

The cop's facing disciplinary, and we're all basically ok...

[CreekDog]

4. In reading this I feel some gratitude that an officer didn't have the heart to hurt

you can apply all kinds of logic to criticize him.

but finding someone in this society who will shoot something --that isn't all that hard. finding someone who will use violence in law enforcement, that's not hard to find.

but to know someone is out there that just couldn't --in a way that gives me hope.

good luck to you officer.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Maybe not cut out to be a police officer (not supposed to lose control of your weapon)--

but I know how he felt, poor guy.

[Eleanors38]

7. Similar incidents have happened. Where I once lived, a sheriff's deputy

Informed a bystander that he couldn't finish off a run-over deer, and asked the man if he could do the job. The bystander retrieved his own weapon from his truck and performed the task.

A month ago, a friend pointed to a young, badly-injured white wing dove struggling to right itself with broken wing & leg in an alley. I wrung its neck, dressed it, and incorporated it into my diet. Some things have to be done.