SHERIFF BRAGS ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO HIDE SCANDAL FROM THE PUBLIC
By FITSNEWS || So … what’s worse? Your law enforcement agency leaves a K-9 cop locked in a hot car, causing the animal to die of vehicular heat stroke? Or … option “B,” your law enforcement agency gets busted a year later for covering up the animal’s death?
If you answered “B,” congratulations … you’re ready to replace the unfortunately christened Michael Hunt, sheriff of Aiken County.
Earlier this week FITS received an anonymous tip regarding a K-9 death at the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO). We couldn’t immediately confirm the information, though. Turns out it wasn’t because we were looking in the wrong place … but rather the wrong time.
Major props to WRDW TV 12 (CBS – Augusta, Georgia) for getting to the bottom of the scandal …
According to the station, the death of a veteran Aiken bomb-sniffing dog actually occurred last year … sixteen months ago to be precise … the Sheriff’s Office simply never told anyone what happened.
Not only that, Hunt offered up a host of quotes bragging about how well his office can keep a secret.
“The fact that the press did not know doesn’t not mean that we tried to keep it quiet,” Hunt told the station. “If we was trying to keep it quiet, you wouldn’t know about it a year and four months later.”
Wow …
Wonder what else this guy’s department is hiding? You know … since he’s so good at keeping public information private.
The officer who left the dog in the vehicle – former Sergeant James Taylor – no longer works for the department. He wasn’t charged with a crime, though – or even fired – he was simply demoted and has since moved on to other employment outside of the state.
This website has previously weighed in on the issue of vehicular heat deaths (people and animals) HERE and HERE. But this story isn’t just about the reckless negligence associated with such situations, it’s about transparency.
Sheriff Hunt knew a major scandal would befall his department in the event this story broke – so he made a conscious decision to sweep it under the rug. And not only that, when the truth finally did come out – rather than apologizing for his deception, he bragged about how adept he is at deceiving the public.
That’s inexcusable conduct … and should frankly cost Hunt his job.
RAPID REACTION
@fitsnews Shouldn't officer's negligence (that led to the dog's death) constitute prosecutable offense against an "officer?"
— Gerald Leach (@geogerry) October 10, 2014
44 comments
Did he really say, “if we was”? If so, that tells you everything you need to know.
Verbatim quote. The Sheriff actually started the dog program. To protect the dogs, according to the sheriff, they plan to install equipment that “…if it gets below a certain temperature it will lower the windows and beep the horn…” That’s sure to help – not
There’s no problem that can’t be solved with more taxpayer money.
“Wha’ ha’ happen was…”
Just had a “Porky’s” flashback.
Federal Funds …. Bad Cop = No Donut = Federal Complaint = Federal Investigation = Federal Prosecution = Prison Pajamas For Most Of Aiken Cty Sheriff’s Dept.
Covering Up something like this says enough. Likely been pocketing drug money, using public funds for personal gain, etc. He wouldn’t just be fired. And he wont be the only one. You can bet on that. Send this one over to the FBI Field Office.
If it was country, we’d tie that motherfucker to a post with barbed wire, and beat him half to death with a 2×4, and let him watch the other half slip away…
but we’ve come a long way since then
… we’ve agreed to treat animals like they were human…
“but we’ve come a long way since country
… we’ve agreed to treat animals like they were human…”
I see what you do there…I see….unfortunately I doubt few others here will.
You may want to change the photo of the *city’s* squad car attached to a story about the *county’s* Sheriff’s Office.
That’s the kind of detail that Will can’t bother with. He’s too busy making up with T-Rav while also getting hot and heavy with Kirkman.
Unfair…Imbalanced…Inaccurate?
Can’t believe they didn’t look in the right place to begin with. Golly geez!
OPEN CHALLENGE:
Dear Sheriff Mike (Dipshit) Hunt: I will be in Aiken County this weekend — catch me if ya’ can!
while you are down in Horse Country could u load up mom/dad and all their yankee friends who moved here and ship them back to o-h-i-o.
You know, it’s not the accidental death of the dog that’s upsetting to me…it’s just a fucking animal.
It’s the fact that cops are simply above the law. The average Joe that has someone like this happen to him and has a busybody neighbor find out, or even the casual Mr. Morality that happens to be walking by and sees a dead dog in his car that then call police, he ends up with a “animal abuse” charge or some stupid shit.
If he’s lucky, it ends there…if he’s unlucky, some animal abuse/rights groups gets wind and paints him as a villain.
Remember that Dr. in the upstate? Charged with a crime.
So what happens to Officer Friendly? Nothing. His corrupt cop buddies cover the shit up, just like they do every other BS thing while Sixpack Joe takes it up the ass every time.
It’s just like all the cop cars I see speeding around town without their lights on.
The law is only for the “little people.”
Your screen name is going to make you very popular in Horry County. Those folks take their bestiality very seriously.
YOU FORGET THE DOG WAS CREATED BY GOD WITH PRECIOUS LIFE, WHAT IF AN ANGEL LOOKED DOWN AT YOU AND SAID ‘ FUCK THE HUMAN IT JUST A HUMAN ‘ YOUR COMMENT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT YOU AND YOUR CHARACTER.
I don’t give two shits about what you think about my character or anything else, because your a nut job. Just remember wacko, I’m not the one who killed it.
Why not try bitching about the cop who did?
*you’re
You took the time to correct your own typo.
That’s about the only thing I see that allows me to provide you with a compliment.
The dipshit probably doesn’t understand the word “Edit”.
Awwww….did I hurt your feelings because I don’t value dogs that highly?
Boo Hoo, time for a good cry.
No, looks like you love dogs way too much.
Yes, you corrected your own typo.
You are pretty much a mouthy, no good , son of a bitch!
All you dog humpers can kiss my ass!
Why would you fuck a dog? Oh, because you’re Six Pack Joe.
Obama covered up Ebola, and you kiss his @$$…
It’s getting bizarre. You liberals won’t cruelty to animals punished by death, yet you apologize to the Ft. Hood Jihadist, while he sits in a comfy cell…looking at MSNBC, with a laptop, surfing FITS, the NYTs and CNN for encouragement.
“Mike Hunt, paging Mike Hunt, has anyone seen Mike Hunt?”.
“Is Mike Hunt in the parking lot?”
“’The fact that the press did not know doesn’t not mean that we tried to keep it quiet,’ Hunt told the station.”
Huh? Maybe not I don’t not understand Mr. Hunt, don’t I not?
The solicitor should press charges.
Conflict of interest.
Assuming it was an accident, he shouldn’t be charged. Then again, Average Joe shouldn’t be charged either for accidentally leaving a child or dog in the car, unless there is evidence that it went beyond an accident and he was criminally reckless. It disturbs me that in our outrage society, many rush to condemn parents who genuinely forget about their child and then claim “I would never forget my child.” Well, they are probably right. They probably wouldn’t forget their child. But I’m willing to bet that every person that has forgotten about a child in their car would have said the same thing.
“Then again, Average Joe shouldn’t be charged either for accidentally leaving a child or dog in the car, unless there is evidence that it went beyond an accident and he was criminally reckless.”
Same standard for cops too, right?
The problem is there is a lot of subjectivity in what you are saying. Are we really ready to equate crimes against animals to those against humans(or lack thereof)?
I agree with you that the Average Joe shouldn’t be charged over dog deaths btw.
Cops lie. That’s what they do pretty much everyday on the job and in court. Nothing new here…
This is just one of many scandals covered up during this sheriff’s tenure-most recently swept under the rug or the cover was the swinger scandal with the married hyphenated last named crime scene investigator. She had a little fetish with providing her soiled undies to another married investigator who was in turn taking pics of his Johnson and sending those to her on duty. Word has it her hubby got pissed-complained and took a pick-up truck full of evidence that she had been stealing from the property room down to the S.O. and Hunt did nothing-because they were not finished passing her around yet-
We have GOT to stop electing sheriffs.
A LE K-9 dying in a hot car this year in SC…about the 3rd or 4th time I’ve read about it…in every corner of the state.
This ain’t funny. These are highly trained, very expensive and time consuming to get to their maximum potential, totally dependent on their pissant, sorry humans and deserve a hell of a lot better. They would die for their handlers, something the handlers children would never do for them.
Sheriff Hunt says “If we was trying …”
Didn’t he used to be the spokesman for the department.
Sad sad sad.
Sheriff Hunt says “If we was trying …”
“Wha’ ha’ happen was…”
Shouldn’t officer’s negligence (that led to the dog’s death) constitute prosecutable offense against an “officer?”
“Move along, Citizen. Nothing to see here. [draws gun] I SAID, “MOVE ALONG. CITIZEN! NOTHING TO SEE HERE!”
Cops Lie. It is a fact taught at the USC National Advocacy Center. Sure, perhaps not all but those who do not, do not speak out. Retribution? And please, the word is canine. K-9 is the range of education required on the job application.
Hey Dumb ass Fits use the right picture that is the city K-9 officer and worlds worst umpire Griswalds dogwagon. This officer was a County Officer