Marty
11-05-2005, 01:41 AM
Vacaville, CA -- Reacting to published reports that an off-duty sheriff's deputy blatantly shot and killed a dog Tuesday in Vacaville, the Solano County Deputy Sheriff's Association has come out in defense of Deputy Mike Vaughn.
"This is definitely a tragedy on both sides," said Deputy Leonard Alexandre, association president, on Thursday. He acknowledged that a family has lost their pet, identified in reports as Sammie the pitbull, but emphasized that the shooting was not a frivolous decision on Vaughn's part.
"This is a man who takes animals off the street and pays for their vet bills out of his own pocket," Alexandre said.
Indeed, the 20-plus-year sheriff's veteran has been rescuing animals since he was 12, is notified on and off duty of animals in need and recently built a wheelchair-contraption for a co-worker's ill pitbull.
Around 8 p.m. Tuesday, Vaughn was out in the Foxboro neighborhood walking his dogs, Rascal, a chow-corgi mix, and Bailey, a rat terrier. The pitbull "came out of nowhere," he said, and attacked Rascal. He stepped in, and the dog attacked him. Seconds later,Vaughn had fought off the dog and then
shot him. Vaughn was unable to get into specifics, saying he was banned by sheriff's officials pending a routine internal investigation regarding the discharge of a firearm.
Vacaville police said their investigation is ongoing.
Vaughn suffered serious bites to his right arm, abdomen and thigh. A finger on his left hand required five stitches, he said.
Alexandre said Vaughn made a split-second decision based on the potential danger to the numerous other people who had gathered in the area, Alexandre added, clarifying that Vaughn did not take a shot until it was safe to do so.
Since the shooting, Vaughn has received a "very ominous" phone call that has since been reported to police.
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_3182999
"This is definitely a tragedy on both sides," said Deputy Leonard Alexandre, association president, on Thursday. He acknowledged that a family has lost their pet, identified in reports as Sammie the pitbull, but emphasized that the shooting was not a frivolous decision on Vaughn's part.
"This is a man who takes animals off the street and pays for their vet bills out of his own pocket," Alexandre said.
Indeed, the 20-plus-year sheriff's veteran has been rescuing animals since he was 12, is notified on and off duty of animals in need and recently built a wheelchair-contraption for a co-worker's ill pitbull.
Around 8 p.m. Tuesday, Vaughn was out in the Foxboro neighborhood walking his dogs, Rascal, a chow-corgi mix, and Bailey, a rat terrier. The pitbull "came out of nowhere," he said, and attacked Rascal. He stepped in, and the dog attacked him. Seconds later,Vaughn had fought off the dog and then
shot him. Vaughn was unable to get into specifics, saying he was banned by sheriff's officials pending a routine internal investigation regarding the discharge of a firearm.
Vacaville police said their investigation is ongoing.
Vaughn suffered serious bites to his right arm, abdomen and thigh. A finger on his left hand required five stitches, he said.
Alexandre said Vaughn made a split-second decision based on the potential danger to the numerous other people who had gathered in the area, Alexandre added, clarifying that Vaughn did not take a shot until it was safe to do so.
Since the shooting, Vaughn has received a "very ominous" phone call that has since been reported to police.
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_3182999