Police Chief Addresses Resident's Dog Complaint

Springfield Chief of Police John Cook addressed statements made by Richland Road resident Gale Donner at Tuesday evening's Township Committee meeting after Donner read a recently-published letter to editor, in which she stated that a dog in her neighborhood should be muzzled when on public property for the safety of others and their pets.

In light of an August 28, 2012 attack in which one dog killed another, Donner and her neighbors are asking the police department to intercede. Donner said one couple has been afraid to get their children a dog for fear of harm coming to them while walking it. 

While Donner stated that she tried four times to meet with Cook to discuss a petition signed by 13 of her Richland and Shelley Road neighbors, she was unable to secure an appointment with him. Cook said that during Donner's unannounced visits, he was out attending to other matters. Though he wasn't there, he said he advised fellow members of the department to tell Donner that the Board of Health did not deem the dog "viscious," which would warrant its muzzling, as this was a single incident and, as such, didn't meet the definition.

Cook also stated that the resident whose dog was killed did not sign the petition. Further, he said he was unaware that Donner had asked for an appointment with him.

Prior to Cook responding to Donner's statements, Committeeman Ziad Andrew Shehady said he took issue with Donner's claim that the police chief and the dog's owner are "good friends." He added that Cook would never put a relationship above the safety of the citizens of Springfield. Cook said he was insulted by the insinuation, which he called "completely false." While Cook said he does know the owner of the dog, he and Township Committee members reiterated that the incident happened more than a year ago and, at the time, was assessed by the Board of Health. 

Mayor David Amlen suggested Donner pursue the matter with Board of Health as that is the body in charge of animal control issues. 

Cook closed by stating that it is "unfortunate" if Donner deemed him inaccessible because he was not in the building at the times she sought him out and added that he believes her letter and characterization of the situation was a "gross disservice to the public." 

Following the meeting, Donner told Patch that a Springfield judge recused himself because of his familiarity with the dog's owner. 

"The judge ruled Wednesday morning that it should go for arbitration outside of Springfield," Donner said. "Summit will be where it is held. I would even like to see in the future, if I can't be helped now, that any dog, after killing a dog and proving to be a menace, has to be muzzled in public streets. This is a travesty that shouldn't prevail and shouldn't be happening in this day and age."