Justice For Cisco: Austin Police Officer Fatally Shot Dog While Responding To Wrong House

A man in Texas says that a police officer fatally shot his dog at point blank range.

An Austin police officer who responded to the wrong house on a domestic disturbance call is accused of fatally shooting an innocent man's dog.

The dog's owner, Michael Paxton, was playing Frisbee with the Blue Heeler, named Cisco, on Saturday afternoon when the officer entered his property, ABC reported.

"While I was at gunpoint, my dog came from my backyard barking at the officer," Paxton wrote on the "Justice For Cisco" Facebook page. "I yelled for the officer to not shoot my dog, that he will not bite, but the officer immediately shot and killed my dog right in front of me."

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Facebook page had 43,262 "Likes."

"I was unable to stop or restrain Cisco because I was being held at gunpoint," Paxton also said.

Austin Police Department Sergeant David Daniels said that the officer, Thomas Griffin, is "distraught" by the incident, according to NBC.

Paxton's neighbors admitted that they had been fighting at the time that officers were looking for their residence, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated that the officer entered the dog owner's home.

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Comments

[Henry Rolligns]

09:23 AM on 01/12/2013

"Austin Police Department Sergeant David Daniels said that the officer, Thomas Griffin, is 'distraught' by the incident."

I highly doubt this.

[Meg Boesch]

03:10 PM on 10/19/2012

The pig who comes to my house by mistake and kills my dog had better kill me too. Because I will get my ruger and hollowpoints and TURN THAT PIG'S HEAD INTO A CANOE!

[Jennifer Burnham]

12:45 PM on 06/20/2012

Wrong.

A. "*designated* dog trainer" what does that even mean?

B. Teaching about breeds continue the problem as the officer will approach certain breeds (and we all know which one) with the automatic assumption that it is aggressive. That is NOT going to stop dogs from being killed. Teaching about the signs of aggressive vs. guarded vs. playful behavior is what is required.

[Cannabliss88]

02:32 PM on 05/31/2012

More proof that stupid cops need to simmer down and stop pointing guns at people like they are toys. Point a gun at me with no reason and see what happens.

[devildoge9]

11:33 PM on 05/08/2012

All those who see the police lie and use the thin blue line to cover up the truth need to remember this the next time a police is giving testimony under oath in a court of law - they are no more believable than anyone else - a true shame.

[devildoge9]

11:26 PM on 05/08/2012

Police need to come down off their god like mentality, get off steroids, have their extra protections and rights taken away and treat others as they would want to be treated! They killed my wife's dog and son's dog and the blue line of government protects them so they act with impunity. GOVERNMENT IS OUT OF CONTROL - CITIZENS WITHOUT WEALTH HAVE NO RIGHTS! What right does a cop have to respond onto property without permission? Guns loaded and aimed to kill at an unarmed man on his own property? Guns drawn for a domestic dispute? Their right to bear arms is to allow citizens to protect themselves from government - who can not see this - is either blind or works for the government and should give up all their guns and right to defend themselves. Dogs give their lives to save us countless times everyday-and how do we honor them-no excuses.

[upset99]

08:55 AM on 04/26/2012

1. Fire the Guy without pension. The Government doesn't want to give ANYONE a break. The Law Enforcers are no different.
2 Sue the City. How much do they pay for a dead child? If cop did this to my dog, I would charge the cop probably get shot too. Of course, the lie would be, "He and his dog attacked me". Most cops are just regular guys doing a difficult job but this is a job that attracts more than fair share of power hungry meglamaniacs.
3. Jail the guy for a few months. Send a message to the power hungry Cops. They are not here to shoot dogs! Deadly force on a family pet?

[Yeb Beirta]

04:16 AM on 04/22/2012

I believe the cops race may have played a part in this as well. Most cruel animal abuse, dog fighting and mistreatment of dogs comes from a certain "demographic" ....sorry, facts speak for themselves.

[klincklanc]

04:06 PM on 10/10/2012

Did you mean those good ole boys that Steve Croft and 60 minutes interviewed regarding their dog fighting in Louisiana and the Carolinas?

[peacekitten]

01:28 AM on 04/22/2012

this is absolutely unconscionable. this man should be fired and his pension denied. even though it won't bring cisco back, i hope his guardian sues the daylights out of both the city of austin and this officer. someday, these helpless pets are going to learn to shoot back.........

[kayatz3]

03:47 AM on 04/21/2012

How many more times do we have to hear about incidents like this? And there's never any repercussion on the cops part! They need to re-train the police in this country to stop the military action and remember the human side. They didn't identify themselves. I hope this guy sues the life out of that police force. I hope that cop gets the same.

[DrugSniffingCat]

12:41 PM on 04/23/2012

Exactly! Police officers are never suppose to "shoot first". Poor Cisco and his family :(

[vergoton]

03:04 PM on 04/20/2012

That particular police officer walked out of his patrol ready to shoot or at least to intimidate.....what is going on with the police pointing his gun at a guy playing freesbe with his dog, why did the cop entered the gate?

[mikejames697]

03:25 AM on 04/20/2012

JUSTICE FOR CISCO! Don't let this cop off the hook for killing an innocent dog. This is total BS. This has happened too much recently. I'm a serious dog lover... I really would have absolutely lost it, if this would have been me. This pathetic cop is a disgrace to his uniform. He should be fired and charged with animal cruelty.

[vergoton]

03:05 PM on 04/20/2012

I hope Cisco's dad gets the best lawyers and sue the police department..................

[scrapper7]

01:18 AM on 04/20/2012

I CAN ONLY SAY, I HATE TO THINK WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME! CISCO IS PLAYING FRISBEE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW BRIDGE! MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO MR. PAXTON.

AND A WORD OF WISDOM TO (the distraught) OFFICER THOMAS GRIFFIN: TRY A BIT OF HYDROCORTIZONE ON THAT ITCHY TRIGGER FINGER. YOUR EARS AND YOUR FINGER JUST WEREN'T IN SYNC THAT DAY, HUH?

[FedericaFellini]

02:02 AM on 04/20/2012

Amen Scrapper!

[scrapper7]

10:06 AM on 04/20/2012

Thank you, Federica. But, it's only the truth. Have a blessed day :)

[Callme Ish]

02:36 AM on 04/20/2012

Lets say I had a gun in my back pocket or a legal concealed carry, I would fire a shot in the air to distract everyone including the dog....and then what......

[scrapper7]

10:02 AM on 04/20/2012

I've read and re-read your comment. I can't understand you're point.

[mark penick]

06:27 PM on 04/19/2012

the HF moderators should ease up and the the truth speak. clowns

[FedericaFellini]

05:20 PM on 04/19/2012

At an absolute minimum, this backlash will make cops think twice.

"Austin police officials yesterday said they are conducting a thorough review of the incident. Griffin has been reassigned to other duties because of the scrutiny over the shooting; police officials say they have received angry messages and threats from all over the world since the news of Cisco’s shooting went viral."
--The Statesman.com

[DebbyM]

08:47 AM on 04/20/2012

This happens all the time, and there is always backlash and there is always another story. Big boys with guns and no self control.

[FedericaFellini]

02:47 AM on 04/23/2012

Exactly Debby!

[vergoton]

03:06 PM on 04/20/2012

I hope they put the cop to watch dangerous inmates....let's see if he is so tough............

[FedericaFellini]

02:49 AM on 04/23/2012

Right?!~? You already knew he was scared the way he went running with his gun in his hand as he exited the car. One thing I am pretty sure of, is that he will never shoot another animal again.