Some Thoughts About Max - Page 7

Do right you are to funny! You wrote:

"I am sure that I will live that long, unless my wife ties me out on the front porch and the cops come to investigate the neighbors calling in "yelling and screaming coming from the old man on the porch next door".  Then I may not be around for you to collect from. "

Are you going to snap at the cops and get shot?? LOL!

spook ~ What part of  "as everyone is claiming to have read it or "heard" both sides" don't you understand? Everyone is going on the newspaper articles AND the debate on this board. Nobody has claimed to have read an Official Report. What makes you so adament the Mattia's are holding back some big secret as to their side of the story? You just seem obsessed with the LEO's side not being heard. Have you heard the Mattia's side? Or don't you care?

Trailerrider, you are one of the people who claim to have heard both sides of the story. "spook I have heard both sides of the story. God knows both sides have been beat to death."

I have made no judgement either way; I won't until I've heard or read BOTH sides. With the way all the upstanding folks on this thread have passed judgement, I would have thought at least one of you have an account of the other side (the Departments version, officer's statement, investigative report, etc.)

I have made no statements, inuendos, allegations against the Mattias. I wasn't there!! I would like to hear both sides just to see which sounds more credible. I realize some of you don't need to hear both sides in order to make a decision; I do.

Spook101

I know37 years would start you in 1970, but were you the second gunman on the grassy knoll?

Below was forwarded from Sharon Mattia....

Mitch,
Please see the link below for the "OFFICIAL STATEMENT" from our Sheriff's Office.

I just wanted to update everyone on my family's dog, Max, who was killed by Charles County Deputy Christopher Long. The "wonderful" Sheriff's department found Long's actions to be justifiable. There was a report on the news last night and an article in the St.Mary's Today- See link below. The Charles County Sheriff's Office left a voice mail yesterday at my mom's home about the findings and did not have the decency to talk to them directly about this. This is really a sad and unfortunate outcome of such an UNJUSTIFIABLE act by someone who is suppose to be protecting our county.

http://www.stmarystoday.com/News/SheriffSaysDogSlayingLawful.html

Follow the Link Above where you will read what I pasted below...

Sheriff Coffey today released this statement: “A use-of-force investigation has been completed and the Office of Professional Responsibility has reviewed the investigation and conducted an inquiry into the matter. The Sheriff’s Office has determined that PFC Long did not violate any Agency policy during the incident. Based on the thorough investigation and subsequently follow-up inquiry, PFC Long’s actions are determined to have been justified.
The result of the confrontation between the officer and the dog was unfortunate and tragic, and Sheriff Rex Coffey and the members of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office extend their condolences to the Mattia family.”

OK spook, I get where you are coming from now. But I have based my opinion on the little information I have gotten on both sides (the newspaper articles and some short correspondence with Mattia's) I should ad ,from the Mattia's I got no derogatory remarks about this incident or PO at all. I guess from what I got from them was just a feeling, ya know like first impretions. On their side from the articles, I got they had their dog tied in their back yard, a police officer  came to serve a warrant, claimed to have been bitten by the dog, and shot it 6-7 times. On Officer Longs side I got, he went to the house to serve a warrant for non child support (not a life and death situation), he had the wrong address but hey, he didn't know that. He knocked on 2-3 doors and windows and got no response. He came around the side of the house and saw a large black German Shepherd. He had a choice then to make... I just don't like his choice. I also don't like his history as it seems he has shot dogs before. For me its a no brainer, but to each there own. I am basing my opinion on the info I have from both sides. If more info becomes available, pictures of torn pants and leg with puncture marks (not a baby scratch either) or history that this dog has bitten in the past I will have to re-think it.

"Sheriff Coffey today released this statement: “A use-of-force investigation has been completed and the Office of Professional Responsibility has reviewed the investigation and conducted an inquiry into the matter. The Sheriff’s Office has determined that PFC Long did not violate any Agency policy during the incident. Based on the thorough investigation and subsequently follow-up inquiry, PFC Long’s actions are determined to have been justified."

It sounds as if, in the opinion of the investigators, the officer used legitimate force. Now you can either believe they gave their best effort and believe he acted within his authority or you can call them liars. For myself, I believe that most law enforcement agencies are honest and that they are easy targets of the public. It may not have been the way you would have handled it, but it isn't your ass that's on the line every time you go out on a call or to serve a warrant or subpoena.

It's easy to second guess people in this situation, but most of you don't have the balls to serve.

JMO but I think this and anything like this needs to be investigated by a neutral party . I am sure if the Mattia's had done the investigation  the outcome would have been entirely different. In this case had the investigation said "yup, he screwed up, had no right to do what he did" it would have opened up a can of worms setting themselves up for a lawsuit with no chance to win. This is getting old, everyone has their own way of looking at it. I'm done.

I choose to second guess the validity of a "Thorough" investigation when...

1.  They did not even pick up the bullet Casing at the crime scene on that day,  The Mattia Family discovered the bullet  casing lying within inches of each other some distance from the area where Max was...

2.  They did not take any photos of the crime scene on that day.

3.  They did not gather the chain collar to determine if it had been broken or shot.

4.  There was no "Medical" report attatched.

5.  Some One phoned the Mattia family with a tip to "not drop the issue"  that there had been other dogs shot by this deputy.

6.  An ambulance crew member told the Mattia Family that Long's pants were NOT even torn, and he did not even need a band-aid.

7.  NO photographic evidence of Longs "injuries" were ever taken.

Come on what they're investigation included was speaking with the Mattia family and speaking with officer Long,  and they concluded at that,  They did not "VIEW" one single piece of evidence at the "crime scene" they did not view any photos, they did not do anything more than cover they're own asses !!  Hell the "Investigation team" did not even go back to the Mattia residence until almost a MONTH LATER !!!   What the hell exactly is a thorough investigation ????  Can someone help me with that,  cause my thinking is that this is MUCH LESS than thorough,  But I could be wrong.

I wonder how many of the people who sent e-mails and signed petitions in honor of Max have sent any to the officer who almost lost their life up in Washington? Has anyone written her commanding officer?

Echo that's your neck of the woods isn't it?

Yes,  and I have not heard a thing about it,  Please enlighten me.  Is there a link to some information somewhere ??

Gard,  Don't think that we are cold hearted nimwhits who Hate LE's,  That's not the case here,  This case with Max Wreeks,  and the smell is coming from Long !!   I just choose NOT to stick my head in the sand on this specific issue,  but that does NOT mean that I "Hate" all LE's as you and sueincc and Spook would have everyone else beleive.