PENNSYLVANIA -- As people question why a police sergeant shot and killed a snapping turtle last week, a municipal police training commission recommends the sergeant be placed on administrative leave or administrative duty while an investigation is conducted.
Police Chief John McNeil says that’s nonsense.
“It’s like if an officer decides to shoot a deer hit by a car, it’s his decision.”
McNeil, who was at a conference for the Police Chiefs Association in Valley Forge this week, said he does plan to review Sgt. Len Galli’s report but will not put him on administrative leave.
“I was absent during the incident and only knew about it from the papers,” he said. “I will read his report and move on from there.”
McNeil said a specific report must be filled out whenever an officer fires a weapon.
“If a gun was discharged at a human, the incident would be handled in a totally different way, but it was a turtle,” McNeil said.
Beverly Young, of the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission in Harrisburg, said Monday she does not know the specifics of the incident, but the commission teaches officers to only use force if there is an endangerment of life or property.
“I hope he had a nightstick or contacted animal welfare before discharging the weapon.”
The turtle, estimated to be 50 pounds, was found in the Wyoming Avenue yard of James Fino on the morning of July 8. First Fino tried to poke the turtle away with a broomstick, but the tortoise quickly snapped the stick in two.
When Galli took over, he attempted to pick it up. The turtle nearly bit the sergeant’s back, so he fired two rounds into the turtle’s head.
This is laughable. This guy doesn't deserve to call himself a police officer. He is a complete moron who should be fired.
Young said if the shooting involved another human, the officer would immediately be put on administrative duty. But the policy on discharging a weapon on an animal is different for every department.
Galli did not return calls for comment for this story.
(Times Leader - July 15, 2005)
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