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Man Gets 20 Yrs for Killing Police Dog

Ross Thompson

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October 15, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS – A convicted felon Clinton Hernandez - has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the shooting death of a police dog.

On May 12th Officer Scott Johnson and his partner Bo – An eight year old Belgian Malinois – were in the process of responding to a burglary when they noticed a suspicious vehicle. The driver attempted to flee and the officers began a pursuit which would end up on foot.

Hernandez- a 21 year old Indianapolis native – shot the dog when it had bit him on the leg. Officer Johnson then shot Hernandez in the hip and leg.

Added to the charge of interfering with a law enforcement animal are ten counts of burglary, to which Hernandez pleaded guilty.

Do you think the punishment fit the crime or is 20 years too much?

Tell us what you think. Post your opinions and comments under this story. What to share your pet story submit video at the zootoo tv tab or you can email us at news@zootoo.com or call 877-777-4204



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dog, police, kill

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333 comments found.
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Sheryl S.
Sheryl S. (smittyinsoky)
8 months ago
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Finally a penalty that has some teeth! I think he deserves the sentence. Does anyone doubt that he would have shot a human police officer if given the chance. Why do we think that animal's lives are worth less than ours?
 
Melanie
Melanie (mfqz)
8 months ago
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I would need more info on this story before I could have an opinion on the sentence.
 
Twenty years with NO chance of parole or early release. I hope his fellow prisoners get to discuss his actions with him ...
 
Suzanne P.
Suzanne P. (mimichinook)
1 year ago
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Hallelujah! Now, if we could just someone to notice when it is not a police dog...
 
Kavian T.
Kavian T. (KavianT)
1 year ago
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Yea a police dog is just as good as an officer of the law, sorry man shouldnt have been putting yourself in situations like that
 
Lynn C.
Lynn C. (Lynn1)
1 year ago
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I guess to understand the sentence, we would have to have more background info on the felon himself....is he a repeat offender, etc. Although if he was commiting crimes with a gun in hand, then he was obviously going to hurt someone at some point. The police dog was on duty, and just doing his job when he was shot ~ I'm sure the sentence was based on that, so was probably appropriate. If the officer had grabbed his arm, would he have shot him as well?
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
This comment has been removed.
 
Sue R.
Sue R. (suerob)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 1 user liked it.
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These are designated police officers. The penalty is DEFINATELY NOT too much.
 
Denise O.
Denise O. (Deebob)
1 year ago
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Would this guy have only gotten twenty years if he shot a human police officer? Police dogs are officers of the law who have gone through training and take risks every day as well. I honestly don't think the sentence is harsh enough considering he won't serve the full time any way!
 
Janie
Janie (wildlifephotomom)
1 year ago
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This guy is lucky I was not the one sentencing him because I would have hung him in an instant!
 
Hannanahmom
Hannanahmom
1 year ago
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The punishment fits the crime, but sadly he will probably not serve the full sentence.
 
Doggieluvs
Doggieluvs
1 year ago
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The dog was a working police officer. The punishment is fair.
 
Brendan L.
Brendan L. (blangen)
1 year ago
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why are all the stories on here bad?
 
EddieP
EddieP
1 year ago
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He killed a dog, he should go to jail.
 
Jennifer
Jennifer (Jenniferwarren18)
1 year ago
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Police dogs are heroes and they are also friends of police officers. These dogs protect us and 20 years is not to much at all!!! This man was armed and dangerous, the dog died doing his job. Belgian malanois are such focused, smart, strong and loving dogs i am so glad that we are using them on the police force, i feel so lucky to have one as part of my family. RIP Bo, you were a good boy!!
 
chili1zz
chili1zz
1 year ago
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he killed a dog he should do the time thay should get 20 no matter what kind of dog
 
Jamie
Jamie (Sadiesmygirl)
1 year ago
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Killing or abuse of an animal is the same regardless if it is a pet or a police dog.
 
collyn f.
collyn f. (animallover0627)
1 year ago
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sandeecbell is right. it is ridiculous that ppl that kill a kitten only get two years and the incapability of owning a pet for three years. tweny years in jail should be for every pet
 
GalenHo
GalenHo
1 year ago
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You are comparing a household pet to a Police Dog? Why not compare a vagabond to a Police officer?
 
Brigit800
Brigit800
1 year ago
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I agree GalenHo, these are officers. We must hold them in a higher regard.
 
sandeecbell
sandeecbell
1 year ago
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I think every one should get 20 years for cruelty, abuse or murder of a pet. Not just police dogs.
 
chili1zz
chili1zz
1 year ago
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i think that he is geting what he should hope he will think next time
 
mart
mart
1 year ago
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I hate cruelty to animals, but lets face faqs here, is it legal for an officer to use excessive force? if an officer had a knife would the officer be allowed to use it to subdue a suspect? dogs have teeth! if i was bitten by an "officer of the law" i would not react in an understanding way, have you seen the damage done by dogs teeth? The police even use dogs on unarmed people! thay put dogs in harms way all the time and don't even give them any protection from knife's and gun's, thay use them as meat shields. So my point is who is guilty of cruelty to animals? Clinton Hernandez who had a dog biting his leg or the police for useing a dog as a weapon. I don't like that the dog was killed and i wish dogs weren't used like this by the police.
 
Jennifer
Jennifer (Jenniferwarren18)
1 year ago
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Police dogs serve a wonderful purpose and help police officers in to many ways to count. Yeah dogs teeth can to damage, thats why the police use them for armed and dangerous (even if they are not armed, they are dangerous) criminals.
Breeds like Belgian malanois, German Shephers are working dogs, search and rescue, police work or even just athletic training is what the nature of these dogs are. Please, be thankful for the work that these dogs and their trainers do, all to protect us, not sad that they are being used by the police
 
Mary T.
Mary T. (matrice)
1 year ago
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the punishment does indeed fit the crime .. the police dog was an officer of the law
 
mybffmojo
mybffmojo
1 year ago
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i don't think 20 years is enough... if he shot a police OFFICER it would be a heavier sentence. he shot a police dog, which is a K-9 officer. he deserves more than 20 years
 
theresa s.
theresa s. (mrsmack)
1 year ago
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Just like any other officer this dog was doing his job and know 20 years isn't to much he should have got life for the muder of a police officer
 
Michael
Michael (Panther1)
1 year ago
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THANK YOU OFFICER BO FOR YOUR SERVICE...YOUR HEROISM WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED!
 
Michael
Michael (Panther1)
1 year ago
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he should be serving life for killing a police officer...hopefully, he wont be eligible for parole
 
marlyn p.
marlyn p. (skyyma2)
1 year ago
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I feel the time fits. He should have gotten more.
 
Shirley B.
Shirley B. (smapplebee)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 1 user liked it.
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He should have received life. He was all ready a convicted felon. Then, he killed a police officer.
At least the dog got one good bite.
 
Brandie A.
Brandie A. (hnddg221)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 1 user liked it.
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I think he is lucky he only got 20 years. In my eyes, he killed a police officer!
 
Debbi H.
Debbi H. (DroolSpeak)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 0 users voted.
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I think 20 was a bit much, but we all know he'll be out way before then.
 
turnandburn
turnandburn
1 year ago
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You shouldn't kill any kind of animals! the man got whthe deserved!
 
Jenn
Jenn (Jenn7703)
1 year ago
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He got what he deserved. If only all guilty persons in animal cruelty cases could get a long sentence like that.
 
immortal
immortal
1 year ago
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he deserves what he got...that poor dog:(
 
Karen H.
Karen H. (Karen1957)
1 year ago
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Hernandez I hope you rot in jail
 
Karen H.
Karen H. (Karen1957)
1 year ago
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RIP Bo,you were a true hero
 
Patricia B.
Patricia B. (kraus)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 0 users voted.
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20 years isn't enough. This man shot a police officer--and knew what he was doing! He should sit in prison for a much longer time!
 
Felicia
Felicia (felicia606)
1 year ago
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he was a police officer so he does deserve the jail time
 
Jeanne H.
Jeanne H. (JHind)
1 year ago
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Yes, the punishment fits the crime. From the sotry it sounds like the 20 years was also related to the other charges, but if he got it for killing an enforcement officer in the line of duty-yes, a good call by the judge.
 
LadySephiroth
LadySephiroth
1 year ago
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Good, he deserved to get 20 years.
 
charmedone92
charmedone92
1 year ago
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I agree... justice was definitely served in this case. This will set an example to all of the animal abusers out there.... dont do it or face the consequences of 20 years in jail!!!
 
Tamara R.
Tamara R. (Tareddy)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 0 users voted.
Reply
He deserves the 20 years. Justice served.
 
CocoBeans
CocoBeans
1 year ago
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ugh! i wanna read it!
 
Lindsey
Lindsey (mamasky)
1 year ago
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Good!
 
Nicole T.
Nicole T. (ntom1)
1 year ago
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That's great! He should have have gotten more time though
 
Elena G.
Elena G. (benjistar)
1 year ago
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yes he was a police officer!
 
dawna d.
dawna d. (dawnadodd)
1 year ago
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Exactly. A police officer is a police officer no matter how many legs they walk on
 
Getta S.
Getta S. (gettadog)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 1 user liked it.
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This dog WAS an officer and therefore deserves to be treated as one.He was killed,let justice prevail.
 
Margene W.
Margene W. (mwhitt)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 0 users voted.
Reply
The dog was a police officer-throw the book at him!
 
Kay Kay
Kay Kay (kayemmkay)
1 year ago
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ok I didn't read the story b/c zootoo took it down but that's good that he gets 20 years for killing a police dog. That's almost like a federal offence.
 
Karen S.
Karen S. (ksnider)
1 year ago
Flag this | Good Point | 0 users voted.
Reply
Justice Prevails once again! The jail term should be the same as though the police officer himself was shot!!
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