What they are not saying about the Vick case
I would like to thank the officers who conducted the original drug investigation at Michael Vick’s Virginia home. In my experience, these officers are the exception to the rule. While on scene they recognized that something out of the ordinary was going on, and rather than ignore it they took the extra steps to secure a separate search warrant and rescue those dogs.
All too often I was approached by a fellow officer who would tell me about what he saw while at a particular address, inevitably followed by “you should go check that out”. What these officers all failed to realize was that they should have taken action while they were there, because THEY WERE THERE.
More often than not, by the time I got back to where the officer told me to go the animals were no longer there or I simply just couldn’t get in. That is why it is critical that there be a consistent, nationwide, law enforcement response to these crimes.
Which shouldn’t be hard to accomplish since dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states. Police investigate crime. Therefore, if you call the police to report the crime of dog fighting you should expect the officers to:
- Respond
- Determine if the allegations are bona fide, and if so:
- Arrest any offenders
- Interview witnesses
- Gather evidence (including the animals)
- Document the results
The bottom line is, it doesn’t matter how strong the laws are, a person has to be investigated by the POLICE and has to be arrested in order for those laws to effect that person. And, as things stand right now, the chances are slim-to-none that someone involved in dog fighting will actually be arrested.
The other thing not being said is, good thing humane investigators hadn’t been poking their heads around this property prior to discovery made by the police. Had humane investigators responded initially these charges may have never been brought.
