Kingsport Police got a call of some suspicious activity a couple of streets over from Rich Hammonds' apartment on Derwood Court Sunday. When officers spotted a suspect and told him to freeze, the suspect fled. The chase led an officer into Hammonds' yard, where the officer says three dogs approached him in an aggressive manner.
According to police, the officer tried to retreat from the yard, but fired at one of the animals in self defense. Hammonds' blue pit bull Mace died from the bullet wounds. Hammonds says the dog was never an aggressive or mean dog. "Just because it's a pit bull," says Hammonds, "doesn't mean it's a mean dog." Hammonds also says his other two dogs, which he says are American bulldogs, were behind his building when the incident happened.
The officer says all 3 dogs were approaching him, posing a threat. Kingsport Police Deputy Chief David Quillin says officers are trained for many things, but every scenario is different, and officers often only have seconds to react. "Sometimes we're put in those positions where we have to take action we'd rather not take," says Quillin, "but we don't have a choice." He adds, "The public or whoever will have days, and weeks, and months to mull over to try and decide if we were right in making a decision that we made with a half second's notice."
Hammonds says the killing of his dog was unnecessary, and wants the Kingsport Police Department to try and right the situation. "I want them to pay me for my dog," says Hammonds, "and an officer like that, they shouldn't even be on the force."
The District Attorney's office is reviewing the incident. Police say that is standard procedure when an officer discharges a firearm on duty.
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