Kind of a grim topic but my girlfriend saw something today which brought up the question, and I know a bunch of cops post on here so I figured we'd ask.

 

On her way to work this morning she passed by a car pulled over that had just been in an accident. She said that the guy must have struck a deer and pulled over. The deer had 3 of it's legs broken and was struggling to move, pretty bad.

 

In which she asked me...if a cop came along and saw that the deer was in severe pain and was not going to make it, are they allowed to shoot the deer to put it down and stop it's suffering? Do they get permission from dispatch or the chief? I was always under the assumption that there's paperwork always entailed with discharging your firearm.

 

And if they're not allowed, do they just call Animal Control to come by and put it down?

 

And are cops allowed to put the animal down themselves in other states?

 

Thanks in advance.

I happened to be passing by on I-95 here in Ewing when a cop put a deer out of its misery, about two years ago. Heard the shot just as I was even with them. So, I'll answer "yes". Not sure if he was township or a Statey, but being on I-95 probably State.

I know for a fact that it used to be done because I have seen it with my own eyes. The cop used his shotgun though. Was is legal? Dunno. Was it the right thing to do? Yes.

I went to Trenton State College (Graduated in 1998).

 

We had an incident where a young deer (buck) caught its reflection in the tempered glass doors of the recreation center and had at it...over and over. He must have thought he was in the fight of his life because he caused himself some serious trauma. He appeared to have a stroke or something and was unable to stand after a while. Campus police put it down right there.

By the way, reminds me of this scene.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auJpqamw9Rg

Yes....Happens all the time here in Morris Co.....

I am a Dispatcher and have had numerous times when the cop had to put down a deer. Only thing they do is alert me that they will be discharging their firearm, and thats usally it. I may get a call from a person saying they heard a gunshot, and as soon asIi explain why. Everything goes back to normal.

 

Reminds me of a story. I was working one night and a lady called and said she had struck a deer with her car, So the officer went to the scene and the deer was pretty much dead. It was barely alive. So the officer puts it out of its misery. 10 minutes later the woman calls back from her home and tells me she called a petting zoo and that they were on there way with a vet to take the deer. I was like ummmmmmm. It died. lol

I was woken up one morning to that. I heard a deer get hit out on Route 36. Shortly thereafter I saw an officer use his shotgun on it.

they blasted a skunk that they believed had rabies a few years ago on my property.

 

not sure on what paper work is involved though if any.

I know for a fact that it used to be done because I have seen it with my own eyes. The cop used his shotgun though. Was is legal? Dunno. Was it the right thing to do? Yes.

 

A couple months ago i came home to two LEO's standing on my property(which is completely gated off). As i was approaching the house i stopped the car by the gate and was like, uhh hey guys whats going on... and they politely pointed to the deer that was impaled on my fence. They shot it with a pistol and pulled it off and left it by the road side for pick up. i was thankful they took care of it and showed my gratitude. For all i know they could have just left the thing on there....

i watched a cop put a random deer down in Vineland.. it was hurt too bad to help...

he called over the radio to authorize the shooting..

one shot of 40S&W and the deer was done..

I know they've shot bears in my town, the ones that invaded houses.

Know of this happening on rt 15 in Sussex

not long after, a truck from space farms gathered the remains

Whose a hungry lion?

good boy!

Years ago I saw an officer put one down near the Big Clown in Middletown. Right in the middle of the highway. They stopped traffic, and once I realized what he was doing (grabbed the 12ga outta the rack) I told the wife to close her eyes when she turned to ask why, BLAM! She made sure not to look. He didn't look to happy about doing it, I honestly think he was crying.. But.. what's gotta be done..

 

Edited for reference;

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_Clown_of_Middletown

 

Even has it's own Facebook page..

 

https://www.facebook.com/EvilClownofMiddletown

Depends entirely on the individual Departmental and County use of force policies..what works here in Monmouth might not in say, Hudson

Seen a Clifton cop put down a rabid skunk one day. He said something about having ceramic ammo for this reason.

Deer was hurt beyond helping at work about 2 years ago. LEO showed up but no one was comfortable with discharging a firearm on nuclear power plant property (before any questions asked this was not on actual power plant site but back in the woods almost off property but on one of our roads). We sent out one of our hunters from the site who grabbed him by the antlers and took care of business.

This is one of only a few acceptable reasons to discharge a firearm according to my dept policy. Not to many 4 legged animals where I work that aren't service animals.

Not to jump off topic but we do alot of accidents Essex county area, My thoughts would be this should become a common practice for accident victims that are sceaming they are in alot of pain and need a back board and neck brace while the whole time they're on the cell phone with their lawyer when the car they were in has as much as a scratch on it. I'd love to see the LEO pull out his gun and say let me just put you out of your misery. It would be great to see how fast the pain stops and they jump out of the car.

Yeah and then I get locked up for menacing and lose my pension. No thanks.

I hit a deer in my corvette in galloway probably about 5 years ago now,... when the cop came he walked over into the elderly mans yard it had fallen in and shot it point blank in the head (like got down on his knee and did it.)

 

No warning or anything. didn't even have time to cover my ears. Guy was a royal prick though. Like he was bothered to come do a report on my car. Also after he shot it he left it in the middle of the poor old mans yard. When the nice old guy (who had invited me in for coffe while I was waiting for the police) asked if the township would take it away he got a resounding "NO, it's your problem". Exactly what he said. He even said the township would not pick it up if we moved it to the road becuase it dies on his property. Then as he was trying to leave the old guy was practically begging him to call the township and pick it up he finally agreed that if we pull it to the road he would call. So I did and thanked the old guy for everything.

 

But seriously what the hell did he expect this 75year old single man to do with this deer? Anyways sorry for the rant. the answer to the question is a resounding yes.

I am still upset about the corvette

Not to jump off topic but we do alot of accidents Essex county area, My thoughts would be this should become a common practice for accident victims that are sceaming they are in alot of pain and need a back board and neck brace while the whole time they're on the cell phone with their lawyer when the car they were in has as much as a scratch on it. I'd love to see the LEO pull out his gun and say let me just put you out of your misery. It would be great to see how fast the pain stops and they jump out of the car.

 

Please dont post anymore.

I am still upset about the corvette

 

 

Good news is it didn't really hurt the vette at all besides some guts on the hood, Its so low I just took its legs out and it rolled up the hood up to the winshield and then flew back forward into the road. (looked like something out of a mob movie)

Ok I feel better

Ok I feel better

 

 

 

Still feel better?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sorry couldn't resist

Dammit..I got Christie'd twice

Its the next rick roll

Christie roll? He'd eat it

Not to jump off topic but we do alot of accidents Essex county area, My thoughts would be this should become a common practice for accident victims that are sceaming they are in alot of pain and need a back board and neck brace while the whole time they're on the cell phone with their lawyer when the car they were in has as much as a scratch on it. I'd love to see the LEO pull out his gun and say let me just put you out of your misery. It would be great to see how fast the pain stops and they jump out of the car.

 

Not cool dude,, not cool...