Kinship Circle | Letter Campaigns

11/14/08: Puppy Fatally Beaten By Los Angeles Firefighter

SOURCE OF INFORMATION / BACKGROUND

UPDATE: L.A. Assistant Fire Chief Charged In Karley's Killing

12/16/08 — READ FULL STORY: Assistant Fire Chief Charged In Puppy Beating

A Los Angeles County assistant fire chief has been charged with beating a neighbor's puppy so severely it had to be euthanized. Glynn Johnson was arrested at his home in Riverside County and the district attorney has filed felony animal cruelty charges against him. Johnson is accused of beating a 6-month-old shepherd mix with his fist and a 12-pound rock on Nov. 3. Investigators say Johnson told them he acted in self-defense and the dog wounded his wrist and thumb. Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said that Johnson has been placed on paid administrative leave...

ХааResearch, contacts compiled by Bridget Soeder, Kinship Circle director/research aide
ХааKTLA News (VIDEO)
ХааLast Chance For Animals (VIDEO)
ХааCalifornia Fire News / LACFD: Fire Chief Investigation
ХааJustice4Kaley
ХааL.A. County assistant fire chief under investigation in fatal beating of neighbor's dog

ааа

Investigators in Riverside County say they have collected all the necessary information and evidence relating to the deadly beating of a 6-month old German Shepherd mix. The Riverside County DA's office...will make the final decision on any criminal charges...

ХааPuppy Beating Case Handed Over to D.A.'s Office
ХааAsst. Fire Chief Kills Puppy in 'Self-Defense'

CONTACT INFORMATION + SAMPLE LETTER

CONTACT INFORMATION Х Print/Send This Letter

Rod Pacheco, Riverside County District Attorney
4075 Main St.; Riverside, CA 92501
ph: 951-955-5431 or 951-955-5400; fax: 951-955-5682
*Maria Driver, DA Secretary: mwdriver@rivcoda.org
*additional email: events@rivcoda.org
*The above emails were the only found, connected with the Riverside DA's Office. If you prefer emailing comments, rather than mailing or faxing, you may try them Ч however, Kinship Circle cannot guarantee either will directly reach DA Rod Pacheco.
SOURCES:
ХааCounty of Riverside District Attorney
Хаа2008 OCIP MASTER SCHEDULE LIST
ХааMULTI-OFFICE DATA, RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA

Los Angeles Fire Chief, P. Michael Freeman
1320 North Eastern Ave.; Los Angeles, CA 90063
ph: 323-881-2411; fax: 323-265-9948
email: info@fire.lacounty.gov

L.A. County Board of Supervisors
Sachi A. Hamai, Executive Officer
383 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple St.; Los Angeles, CA 90012
ph: 213-974-1401; fax: 213-633-5100
email: executiveoffice@bos.lacounty.gov, info@bos.lacounty.gov

*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee validity of email addresses. During campaigns, recipients may change or disable their email addresses. Emails from government, corporate, or institute websites may be incorrect.

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SAMPLE LETTER Х Print/Send This Letter

Dear Riverside County and Los Angeles Officials:

I write to urge rigorous prosecution in the case of Glynn Johnson, a Los Angeles County Assistant Fire Chief on administrative leave for allegedly killing his Riverside neighbor's shepherd mix puppy. Karley's critical injuries led to her euthanasia. She was six months old.

Brandon Toole found his family's dog battered and bloody. Evidently, Karley had dashed across several lawns, including Johnson's. Another neighbor, Travis Staggs, had begun to lead Karley home when Johnson reportedly struck her with a closed fist some 12 times and pounded her with an 11-inch rock.

Johnson claimed self-defense. More likely, Karley behaved as any puppy would in response to harsh handling. In fact, Jeff Toole claims Johnson's thumb was punctured as he busted Karley's jaw.

I suggest law enforcers and emergency responders learn to distinguish anxiety, fear and protective canine behaviors (barking, growling, nipping) from genuine hostility. All officers should be trained to neutralize animals perceived as aggressive Ч without resorting to lethal force.

I respectfully ask the Riverside County District Attorney to charge Johnson with malicious and intentional injuring of an animal. Please seek maximum felony penalties, including incarceration and a fine. If Johnson is convicted, he should be barred from contact with animals and ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation and therapy.

I also encourage the Los Angeles Fire Chief to terminate Johnson's job, or at the very least, suspend him until all legal actions conclude.

Violence against animals is a well-documented precursor to violence against humans. The American Psychiatric Association lists animal cruelty as a key trait for conduct disorders. ASPCA's Randall Lockwood, Ph.D. Ч who aids cruelty investigators, law enforcers and court officials Ч identifies animal abusers who project blame onto their victims as "repeat offenders...resistant to intervention."

Please consider the brutality in Johnson's actions and proceed with criminal charges. I look forward to any updates in this disturbing case.

Thank you,

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DISCLAIMER

DISCLAIMER: The information in these materials is verified with the original source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing on this website is intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment or unlawful activity. Nothing in this action alert serves to promote such conduct.

Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses. Email addresses obtained from government or other official websites may be outdated or incorrect.

Animal abuse cases are TIME-SENSITIVE — depending upon the nature of a crime as well as court arraignment, hearing, and sentencing date. To check the status of a case before writing, search the Animal Abuse Crime Database for updates. Many animal cruelty cases (but not all) are on file here: http://www.pet-abuse.com/database/