City Manager Bob Wade said rumors of overeager Noble officers are inaccurate. "I was told that they tried several ways to get the snake down, but it was still hissing at them and firmly lodged,” Wade said. "What I was told is that the owner of the home either suggested or agreed that they should go ahead and shoot the snake, and then everything happened from there.”
Wade refused to identify the officer suspected of firing the shots but said the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents were told that officers decided to shoot the animal after being told there was a field behind them, said Jessica Brown, bureau spokeswoman.
Excuse-making mouthpiece Wade would have done better saying nothing than trying to blame the homeowner for his officer's appalling lack of judgment--as if anyone but the operator is responsible for firing a gun. Ditto for Brown, who indicates telling a cop there's "a field behind them" somehow excuses firing a gun when what's behind the target and in the bullet's path hasn't been determined.
This story is just so appalling on so many levels.
First of all, assuming the Noble "Only Ones" couldn't use a rake handle or a shotgun or snake shot in their handguns, it doesn't seem unreasonable to ask why this wasn't a job for animal control--particularly since they're in the same building as the Noble PD.
And then we have the matter of refusing to release the name--that seems to be a recurring theme--unless "authorized journalists" covering the story are getting their ox gored.
Ironic thing about Noble. They appear to be murder-free.
Until now. And you can bet this will be added to Oklahoma's "child gun deaths" statistics and used as further "justification" against private gun ownership.
And then we have the matter of refusing to release the name--that seems to be a recurring theme--unless "authorized journalists" covering the story are getting their ox gored.
Ironic thing about Noble. They appear to be murder-free.
Until now. And you can bet this will be added to Oklahoma's "child gun deaths" statistics and used as further "justification" against private gun ownership.
And then we have the matter of refusing to release the name--that seems to be a recurring theme--unless "authorized journalists" covering the story are getting their ox gored.
Ironic thing about Noble. They appear to be murder-free.
Until now. And you can bet this will be added to Oklahoma's "child gun deaths" statistics and used as further "justification" against private gun ownership.
One other thing stands out in light of a post from yesterday:
[Via HZ. Additional link provided by Mike S]
Ironic thing about Noble. They appear to be murder-free.
Until now. And you can bet this will be added to Oklahoma's "child gun deaths" statistics and used as further "justification" against private gun ownership.
One other thing stands out in light of a post from yesterday:
The first shot was so loud it made the hair stand straight up on Jack Tracy's arm.That's understandable. Now compare that to what "stands the hair up" on an "Only One."
[Via HZ. Additional link provided by Mike S]