22Aug Officer “Insensitive” as Dog Dies During Traffic Stop

Image by Darcie via Flickr

KTLA News

August 19, 2008, 7:43 AM PDT

AUSTIN, Texas — A San Marcos police officer has been reprimanded for his actions during a traffic stop where a dog died.

Officer Paul Stephens recently pulled over a speeding SUV, which was apparently going up to 100 miles per hour. Dash camera video shows a frantic man get of the driver’s seat and tell the officer that his dog is choking to death in the back seat. He said they were trying to get the animal to a veterinarian for emergency care.

Officer Stephens is heard telling the man, “It’s just a dog, you can get another one.”

He’s also heard asking the man “what are you on, man?”. When he answers, “I’m bipolar”, the officer responds, “I can tell. You need to calm down, sir.”

Officer Stephens then asks for the man’s driver’s license and proceeds to write him a speeding ticket.

The dog died in the back seat.

The man says he can understand why he was pulled over for speeding, but adds that the officer was insensitive and never apologized.

Officer Stephens was reprimanded for his actions but was not suspended.