Just heard on the news 2 police office wounded by shots been fired and 1 police dog killed, when is this going to stop.

This is happing in Christchurch again.

My heart goes to the officers and that amazing dog that has lost its life

Toots

Just heard it on the way home and at the stage they didn't give out any more info about the police dog. I was so hoping that it was going to be ok.

Yes Toots my heart also go out the police officers and their families and to the police dog.

RIP you wonderful police dog.

Sasha's Mum

This is just awful. The sooner they treat the killing/wounding of a police dog the same as a human police officer the better.

For wounding 2 x 2 legged police officers - maybe 18 months (if Joe public is lucky) and a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket for "killing" a 4 legged police officer. Arghhhhhh! Just so frustrating!!!
Dalmac

No doubt some pro-'human rights' morons will say he has the right to defend himself against the dog etc. The way I see it is if you resist arrest you've just thrown away any rights you have at that point.

We really should look into sending these anti-social criminals to Asian prisons. They have it way too good here.

Very upsetting news again... Just can't believe this when it happens.. a life for a life I think... Regards Bill and Kyla

I heard that the police dog handler was shot in the head and the other in the leg, the one shot in the leg has gone to hospital but still no more news on the other officer.

I am like you all I am sick to dead with these people that shot the police dogs maybe its time we took a stand, if we all went to out local MPs and cooked up a storm, oh John Banks is a good start as he is a GSD lover.

Lets do some thing for the sake of these amazing hard working dogs

Toots

The f#### bastard!!

Very sad DON'T watch the video ;-)







http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3913189/Officers-shot-dog-killed-in-Christchurch

LATEST: Two police officers have been shot and injured and a police dog killed in Christchurch.
Police have stormed a house on Buccleugh St, in the suburb of Phillipstown, and taken a man - handcuffed with his face covered in blood and his shirt and trousers torn - away in a police car. A second man has also been arrested.
The house had been surrounded by police after reports of gunshots. A police dog was killed and two police officers suffered gunshot wounds.
The body of the police dog is lying in the street. The injured officers were reportedly shot in the leg and jaw. It is believed a .22 rifle was involved in the incident.
A St John's Ambulance spokesman said paramedics attended, but did not take any patients to hospital. "Anyone who was injured was taken to Emergency Department by their police colleagues."
A cordon blocks off parts of Cashel St, Hereford St, Linwood Ave and Buccleugh St.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Police Minister Judith Collins said she would be travelling to Christchurch.
"I am being updated as events unfold," Ms Collins said.
"I will be travelling to Christchurch this afternoon, and hope to visit the officers involved, and offer any support I can.
"This incident serves to remind us that the job police do in keeping the community safe can be dangerous and unpredictable."
WITNESSES
Hannah Johnson, 18, was in her flat on Buccleugh St when the incident happened right outside her house.
''I was sitting in my room and I heard all these guys, so I went and looked out my gate and there was this guy with his hands on his head, and the cops had him down on the ground then took him away,'' she said.
''I heard one gunshot, but that was further down the road.''
Ms Johnson said the police stayed in the area for some time after the incident.
''They're just standing behind their cars with these massive guns.''
Neighbour Matthew Pilcher was home with his mother when the action began and watched the arrest unfold from his window less than 20 metres away.
At about 11.30am, police began to negotiate with the suspect. Pilcher said the "scruffy, bearded" man was shouting and swearing at police.
''He was going, 'how's your mate, how's your mate?'. I think that was about the shot cop.''
Pilcher said he had seen a police dog take the man to the ground.
''I think he [the suspect] put his gun on the clothes line. I saw the dog attacking him. He's stopped swearing.
''Bascially he's put it [the gun] up there, they sent the dogs in and had guns pointing at him, three guns. Then the dog took him down.''
Another person, who declined to be named, was in nearby Cashel St and said they heard a single shot and saw a man doubled up outside a house in Buccleugh St.
"They had a guy down on the ground who's since been taken away. We thought he'd been shot," they said.
A nearby resident on Olliviers Road said he went to check his mailbox around 11.20am and was told to get back inside his house by a police woman.
"I hadn't heard the shots..." he said.
"But I took off back inside as fast my feet would take me."

RIP Police Dog Gage - you were only 6 years old. Way to young to have been deprived of life.

Bloody hell, is there something wrong with the water in ChCh?

My sentiments exactly Danny. Was interesting to hear some of the views on talkback this afternoon, a large number of people can't understand why these heroic GSD's are not classed as serving officers (the charge for killing a police dog would then be the same as killing a human officer).

RIP Gage, may the dickhead who took your life get his just desserts

Bear's Mum

I believe they should hand these scum over to us . The loss of a police dog or any dog for that matter seems to mean nothing. NOT SO . Take him sky diving without a shute . Shelby

RIP at rainbow bridge for this 4 legged police officer. He paid the ultimate price.

In the USA in most jurisdictions the intentional injuring or killing of a police dog is a felony, subjecting the perpetrator to harsher penalties just as an assault on a human police officer is often a more serious offense than the same assault on a non-officer.

A growing number of law-enforcement organisations outfit dogs with ballistic vests, as with human police officers, and most states in USA even go so far as to make the dogs sworn officers, each with their own police badges and IDs.

Furthermore, a police dog killed in the line of duty is often given a full police funeral.

Why don't we have the same laws in NZ, surely it can't be that hard to make them sworn officers here? I understand that the people who kill police officers and dogs will do it regardless, however the end purpose is you are keeping some lunatic off the streets for a longer period of time, and in prison where they should be.

According to the Herald this morning, Gage gave his own life to save that of his handler ( who was shot in the cheek and the jaw), and his partner who whilst diving out a window was shot in the thigh.
Gage gave them enough time to be able to escape from the physcotic idiot with the gun by distracting him.
However,Gage paid the ultimate price, without him the officers would have either been shot and killed or shot more severely.
His handler had surgery last night to have a titanium plate inserted in his jaw as it was shattered in 4 places, and the other officer had surgery for a gun shot wound that passed straight through his thigh.

My thoughts are with all concerned, especially Gage's handler and his family who have had a family member hurt and lost one forever

visit

www.police.govt.nz

to see a lovely photo of Gage with his handler during happier times.
We are also reminded of Enzo who was strangled and drowned in 2007, he was the 22nd dog to die in the line of duty

The most distressing thing for me is that I can not go to a NZ news website nor pick up the Dominion Post without seeing an image of poor Gage lying on the street!!

They never show photos of dead humans, where is the media's humanity, show some respect to an animal that has given its life to protect and serve this country!!

As for the %#!@~ that did this, well, words can not describe how I feel!!!

From xtrayahoo news page at 2pm.

The 34-year-old Christchurch man who shot two police officers and killed a police dog yesterday will appear in court today on two charges of attempted murder.

Along with the two counts of attempted murder, Christopher Graeme Smith, a process worker, of Phillipstown, has also been charged with intentionally killing a police dog, cultivation of cannabis, possession of a pig knife, and using a firearm against a member of police.

Let's hope he gets what he deserves. Including killing young Gage.
RIP brave boy.

I hope they throw away the key but sadly that wont happen.

I would like to see him put in a pen with some police dogs and that would put the fear god into him.

Toots

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/24740.html

Do not view if you are easily upset

I know that I cried at this image

RIP Trentham Gage

You're not the only one Froggy. I find it upsetting everytime the media show Gage lying in the street

Bears Mum

Its not nice. They should remove it. I also find it very upsetting and alot of other people would too. I vote they remove it.

Sasha's Mum.

Personally I was pleased to see Gage get full honours at his service, Having the NZ flag on a coffin is for hero's and I am glad they showed Gage having this honour and being treated as the hero he was

Gage certainly did.

Very moving but very appreciative photo of a fallen heroe.

I am also pleased Gage had full honours and its is so so sad, my 17 year old granddaughter saw the photo and just said over over " on nana that is so so sad "

RIP gage

Toots

Had to share this - just too cute not too, this article in the Dominion Post was actually shown with the same picture of Gage wrapped in the NZ Flag

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3934392/Hello-hello-whats-going-on-ear-then

Thanks for that Andrea yes it is so cute, puts a lump in the throat

Toots

How fitting

Maddog

Aww that is so cute. Nice to see a warm fuzzy in the news

Bears Mum

Yes I find the photo very very upsetting (I hadn't seen it before) but it's a tribute to our poor friend and the family must have agreed to it's release.

The photo I didn't like was the one of Gage on the road. I found that one very very upsetting and sad. They didn't need to show that.
The other photo of Gage is sad, but as you say ColCol it is a tribute to such a wonderful wonderful hero. RIP Gage and run free.

Sasha's Mum.