Cop levels shotgun and fires at elk in residential neighborhood

[madfranks]

Once again, the rules do not apply to them, only to us. What do you think would happen if any of us wandered around a residential neighborhood with a shotgun and started firing at a stray elk? We'd be in jail, be banned from owning firearms for the rest of our lives, we'd face massive fines and potentially be charged with domestic terrorism. But if a cop does it? Well, he's sorry about the confusion.

Boulder police apologize for "confusion" over a bull elk shot by an officer (http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2013/01/boulder_police_apologize_for_confusion_over_a_bull _elk_shot_by_an_officer.php)


On Tuesday, Boulder police say, an officer shot and killed a bull elk in the area of Ninth Avenue and Mapleton Street around 11 p.m. That officer was on routine patrol when he saw the elk, which he says appeared to be injured. Some of the elk's antlers had been broken off and it was limping, police say.

"In the officer's judgment, the animal needed to be humanely put down," the statement reads. The officer fired one shot from a shotgun, killing the elk, which was in a residential yard. That animal was then "taken home to be processed for meat by another officer, who was off-duty at the time."

One problem, however, is that the officer didn't inform Boulder Police dispatch about his plan; nor did he notify any on-duty supervisor or file a report. This meant that there was no record of his involvement, which has created confusion about who was responsible.

That "confusion" is a reference to this Daily Camera write-up, which quotes neighbors who say that an officer killed the elk but that police had no record of it. Now they do. "We apologize for the confusion and have initiated an internal personnel investigation into the matter," the department's statement reads.

And the incident is apparently sparking a notable amount of interest from the media. Boulder Police spokeswoman Kim Kobel sent out an e-mail this afternoon that given the requests for interviews on the matter, the chief of police will be holding a media briefing at 1:30 p.m.

[palani]

In the officer's judgment, the animal needed to be humanely put down

The definition of 'human' is monster. Hope they don't decide that YOU need to be humanely put down.

[midnight rambler]

In the officer's judgment

Therein lies the problem, the state has given cops the 'authority' to render unquestionable irreversible* 'judgment'.

*oftentimes judgment not even a court can overturn if a judge wanted to

[madfranks]

According to this report (http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_22307962/boulder-police-officer-under-investigation-after-killing-trophy), the elk was a "large game animal and a trophy animal". The cop claims the elk was injured and limping, but I bet he saw this six point trophy elk and his trigger finger got itchy and he wanted it for himself. That's why he never issued a report, he wanted this to be kept on the down low. But again, wandering into someone's back yard leveling a shotgun and opening fire would be grounds for massive prosecution for any of us. It looks like this story is gaining national attention, I hope this cop gets what he deserves.

[mick silver]

what the f wrong with you all . dont you all know by now their two set of laws .

[joboo]

I know this will be incredibly hard to believe, but that cop is a also a citizen, probably a hunter, and likes to shoot guns.

I know....I know.... it's incredibly crazy to think it.

Maybe he saw the wounded animal, felt sorry for it, and put down without thinking as a hunter would.

Sure he's a cop, they have special privileges in society, but they also deal intimately with the trash of society on a daily basis.

Let the flame war begin...

[midnight rambler]

Discharging rounds in a residential area is inexcusable, and defending same is just asinine.

He should have done like anyone else in that sort of circumstance and called the Game Warden - it would have been the reasonable and responsible thing to do.

[joboo]

Isn't that like calling 9/II, and waiting forever, when you need a gun now?

The concept probably seemed silly even to the cop.

Animal hit by a car and is suffering...he interfaced with it....saw it was serious...hunter instinct....pop.

No game warden...saved taxpayer dollars to boot.

[midnight rambler]

To some the ends justifies the means. Some* also think that cops have 'license' to do whatever the fuck they want, whenever they want. Those people are often referred to as moral relativists.

*this certainly includes most cops

[Dogman]

Cop's here put down deer and other critters that get hurt too badly to be saved all the time here. Usually animals that are hit by traffic. They give the local game wardens a call to see what to do.

Ether the wardens come out or tell the cops to put the animals down. And if edible to contact different food banks to see if they want the meat.

[midnight rambler]

Cop's here put down deer and other critters that get hurt too badly to be saved all the time here. Usually animals that are hit by traffic. They give the local game wardens a call to see what to do.

Ether the wardens come out or tell the cops to put the animals down. And if edible to contact different food banks to see if they want the meat.

Do they 'get away with' not writing up a report over discharging their weapon in a residential area?

As Mick Silver correctly pointed out, there are two sets of laws - one for us, and one for the king's men.

[joboo]

Thing is they do have the power to do pretty much anything they want to manipulate people if they're not honest. So do a lot of people on the job.

How does one fix honesty?

[madfranks]

Isn't that like calling 9/II, and waiting forever, when you need a gun now?

The concept probably seemed silly even to the cop.

Animal hit by a car and is suffering...he interfaced with it....saw it was serious...hunter instinct....pop.

No game warden...saved taxpayer dollars to boot.

The animal wasn't hit by a car, it was in someone's back yard. It was a trophy animal that he wanted for himself, which is why he didn't report it or call a supervisor. He wandered into someone's private property with a shotgun and killed it, and called a friend to haul it away. If he was concerned with ending the suffering of an injured animal, he wouldn't have had his friend secretively haul it off for meat and trophy processing.

[joboo]

Is that speculation, or was it verified?

[Glass]

The guy was off duty and discharging a firearm in a residential area. The guy also went onto private property to do it. Unless he was dealing with a request by the land owner I'd say there were some legal problems there.

[Santa]

A Law Officer abusing the Law is as morally repugnant as a Day Care worker abusing the kids.

[milehi]

Isn't possesion of a game animal out of season, without a tag, poaching?

[AndreaGail]

many very infuriating issues here:

-he gets PAID administrative leave
-all the neighbors liked the elk when it roamed the area
-he shot it in someones back yard no less
-the PD played dumb and said it was the first they had heard about this

[Glass]

On Tuesday, Boulder police say, an officer shot and killed a bull elk in the area of Ninth Avenue and Mapleton Street around 11 p.m. That officer was on routine patrol when he saw the elk, which he says appeared to be injured. Some of the elk's antlers had been broken off and it was limping, police say.


"In the officer's judgment, the animal needed to be humanely put down," the statement reads. The officer fired one shot from a shotgun, killing the elk, which was in a residential yard. That animal was then "taken home to be processed for meat by another officer, who was off-duty at the time."

2 different officers. One on duty and One off duty.

[Twisted Titan]

How do we even know the animal was injured?

Maybe officer d!ckhead just decided to snag it

Best time to do crime is during the day when working class people are working.

Cops lie on reports everyday multiple times a day and The municipality covers up the stinking pile of sh!t the leave on peole and property

[Twisted Titan]

Just on the radio

A home owner AND eye witness to the incident said the animal WAS NOT injured at.


So officer D!ckhead wanted to bag a trophy on the tax payer dime.

[AndreaGail]

I have seen it all now

The community held a candlelight vigil for the elk tonight

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22322028/residents-mourn-boulder-elk-at-candlelight-vigil

[Mouse]

The deer didn't exist. The backyard is a prop. The whole thing never happened. The cop is an actor they brought in later just to make the story newsworthy.

There is no spoon.

Just thought I would provide some torture here. Have a nice day!

[madfranks]

I have seen it all now

The community held a candlelight vigil for the elk tonight

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22322028/residents-mourn-boulder-elk-at-candlelight-vigil


A couple hundred people turned out tonight to light candles, sing and tell stories as they mourned a beloved bull elk killed on Mapleton Hill in Boulder.

“He was a beautiful animal,” said Nancy Platt, of Boulder. “He was hurting nobody. He didn't deserve what he got.”

The elk was fatally shot by an on-duty Boulder police officer, who has since been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the results of an internal investigation.

A second off-duty officer, suspected of assisting in loading the animal's body into a pickup truck and taking it away to be processed for meat, also was placed on leave.

Vigil organizer Jim Riemersma said he wanted to give the neighborhood an opportunity to grieve, celebrate and find “a little bit of closure.” The vigil was held on Mountain View Road at the site of a tree memorial and near the yard where the elk was shot.

I think, as restitution, they should process the meat and share it between all the grieving families. He was your guardian and a friend to the community? Here's three pounds of elk jerky, enjoy! :D

[madfranks]

Ha ha, look what someone put up around the neighborhood!

4273

[midnight rambler]

lol The two assholes got charged and arrested, now on unpaid suspension -

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/cops-face-charges-killing-elk-220848858--abc-news-topstories.html

[Dogman]

lol The two assholes got charged and arrested, now on unpaid suspension -

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/cops-face-charges-killing-elk-220848858--abc-news-topstories.html

One good thing about the internet and its ability of putting a spotlight on issues.

These walking donuts probably would have gotten away with it, if not for the net and exposure of this story!

Makes things much harder to sweep things under a rug, too never see the light of day again!

[madfranks]

I have to admit I'm surprised, normally cops get away with their flaunting of the law. These two just lost their careers!

[freespirit]

Yeah but had it been a person he shot he could have just filed the report, business as usual. I'll take paid suspension for a thousand, Alex...

[osoab]

I know this will be incredibly hard to believe, but that cop is a also a citizen, probably a hunter, and likes to shoot guns.

I know....I know.... it's incredibly crazy to think it.

Maybe he saw the wounded animal, felt sorry for it, and put down without thinking as a hunter would.

Sure he's a cop, they have special privileges in society, but they also deal intimately with the trash of society on a daily basis.

Let the flame war begin...


Isn't that like calling 9/II, and waiting forever, when you need a gun now?

The concept probably seemed silly even to the cop.

Animal hit by a car and is suffering...he interfaced with it....saw it was serious...hunter instinct....pop.

No game warden...saved taxpayer dollars to boot.


Is that speculation, or was it verified?

What does our resident SPLC disruptor have to say now?

[Twisted Titan]

Wont answer. .........

Just magically move on to another pot of sh!t he can start stirring

[mick silver]

this story is just one more reason why they want internet reform

[Rubberchicken]

On Wednesday, Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett said prosecutors were waiting to decide on charges in the Mapleton elk shooting until they received the texts between Boulder police officers Sam Carter and Brent Curnow. As it turns out, they were worth waiting for.

According to investigators, the texts between Carter, Curnow and a Boulder County sheriff Deputy Jeff George showed that the shooting and disposing of the elk Jan. 1 was a premeditated hunt for a trophy kill.

The arrest affidavits for Carter and Curnow -- who were booked Friday on suspicion of nine different charges -- stated while analyzing the cell phone interaction between the two, investigators, "discovered several messages indicating that the killing of

Brent R. Curnow (Boulder County Sheriff's Office)the elk was planned and personal gain of meat and trophy."

Carter told police he encountered the buck while on patrol that night, but at 2:56 a.m. -- almost 20 hours before the shooting -- Carter texted "Found wapiti (elk) you up," followed by a text of "Should I go hunting," at 4:14 a.m.

At 5:56 a.m. Carter texts George with the location of the elk, followed by George texting, "Did you shoot him?" to which Carter replies, "Nope."

At 2:45 p.m., Curnow texted, "You should have killed it," to Carter, who responded, "Oh he's dead tonight. His right side is broke off at main beam. And he looks a little smaller. He may not be wapiti, but he's gonna die."

By 10:43, Carter texts George that he had found the elk near Ninth Street and Mapleton Avenue and asks him to head to the scene.

Carter then tells Curnow at 11:44 that he found the elk. Curnow texts Carter back telling him to, "Get him," but Carter says "Too many people right now."

But at 11:55 p.m., just after Curnow asks Carter, "When you think you can wack it," Carter texts back, "Elk down."

In addition to the shooting, Carter and Curnow also discussed what to do with the meat. Just before the shooting at 11:54 p.m., Curnow asks Carter,

Samuel J. Carter (Boulder County Sheriff's Office)"You gonna be able to help butcher it? Or are you gonna go home sick?" Carter responds, "I can butcher."

Boulder police said Curnow was supposed to be on duty that night but had called in sick. According to the arrest affidavit, Carter called in sick immediately after clearing the scene after the shooting.

All of the texts and calls from that night had been deleted on Carter and Curnow's phones when they were seized for evidence, but investigators were able to obtain them from their respective cell phone carriers.

[madfranks]

Wow, their spelling and grammar are what, 3rd grade level?

[BrewTech]

Wow, their spelling and grammar are what, 3rd grade level?

You expected a Ph.D?

ROFL.