One of the most ****ed up things you will see

[CrazyPhuD]

Originally Posted by Bump

Why couldn't they have sprayed it or tazed it first? Pulling out the pistol is easy mode.

The dog was being a good dog. Protecting his owner from what he perceived as bad guys. The dog just sort of jumped at the cop. I mean, even hit it with your stick

Why should killing be the first option?

Tazing probably wouldn't work. You have one shot that's it, hitting a smallish rapidly moving target is no sure thing and if you miss you can't grab your gun before the dog is on top of you at that range(and the other cops can't shoot once the dog is on you because of the risk of hitting you). If they were further away maybe. One other bit about tazers a lot of cops aren't equipped with them because there's always the risk in the heat of the moment that instead of grabbing the taser you grab your gun thinking its your taser. Tazers can be less safe oddly.

I'm not sure about the pepper spray but I'd guess that's in an inconvenient place on their belts. If you think about most uses for pepper spray it's not for quick reaction. In quick moments training and muscle memory take over and I'm sure they aren't trained for fast pepper spray response.

If they had led with the pepper spray at start maybe, but you can see the guy trying to get the leash at the start. Maybe that we his bad choice he should have just sprayed him to begin with. But I think it's clear he didn't approach the dog with the intent to shoot. He shot when it was too close and risky to do much else.

As to batoning the dog, two things...first you have to get the baton out fast again it's not something that is designed for a quick draw. Second I'd wager that at the distance the dog was at and it's size, you hit it with the billy club and you're just going to piss it off.

Mostly likely it got too close and he had to react quickly, training and muscle memory took over and that's to draw and fire.