I read with great dismay of the "accidental" shooting of a bald eagle by a Jeannette police officer (" Policeman keeps job after eagle shooting ," Aug. 28).
I don't have much faith in a law enforcement officer who can't tell the difference between an eagle and a turkey, roosting or otherwise! To even the untrained eye the differences are quite apparent.
However, the fact that this law enforcement officer, after realizing what he had done, walked away and left this bird to die is unconscionable.
What compounds this farce is the fact that in December 1999 he pleaded guilty to firing a weapon at a deer while within 150 yards of an occupied structure. Could it have been someone's dog, cow or horse?
The police department said the eagle shooting was an "internal" matter, which it had handled, and should be put behind everyone. I don't think so! This was and still should be a "federal matter," based on the federal Eagle Act. This only shows that police officers get preferential treatment.
This man is supposed to be a trained, professional law enforcement officer. In my opinion, this makes him someone who certainly should know better and should act a whole lot better.
I thank Bob Stiles for his article, as always, concise and fact-filled. I point a finger of shame at police Chief Carl Shifko for not taking a more serious look at what one of his officers did.
