Shoot the Dog

Today we had a test on "Use of Force." At line up this morning, before the test, it was negotiated that for every person who didn't get %100 we would have to do a push up. The test was a 50 question test. I felt good throughout the whole test. I read the questions carefully and found my little happy place and breathed. The test was the type that if you thought to much about the answer or over analyzed the question you would get it wrong. The question that got me went like this, 

An officer responds to a small neighborhood for a report of an aggressive dog. When the officer arrives to the house the dog owner releases the dog. The dog charges the officer, the officer draws his weapon and shoots the dog, killing it. 

Was the use of force reasonable? 

Yes or No

I spent way to much time thinking about the answer. I read and re-read that question a dozen times. I thought it would be unreasonable to shoot the dog. Although it would be legal to shoot it, I didn't feel it was reasonable to kill the dog. I thought using my baton would be a better use of force. I was wrong. I was supposed to shoot the dog. Another reason I choose not to shoot was because when an officer decides to draw his weapon it's done out of fear for his or another's life. I didn't think the dog was life threatening.  

That was the only question I missed. I'm real upset about it. I was so close to getting %100. Ten of the cadets got %100's. So we did 31 push-ups this afternoon. 

Shoot the Dog!