Forest Lake Police Should Revoke Rookie Cops Firearm Privileges

In the most recent edition of City Pages is an article about "...a Forest Lake police officer who shot two collared, domesticated deer on private property about 50 feet from a house. First-year policeman Brent Degroot told his superiors that he almost crashed his vehicle into one of the deer while on early morning patrol last month. He then used a shotgun to kill both of them." See the article and my comments at http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2012/02/brent_degroot_forest_lake_policeman_shoots_domesticated_deer_jeff_carpenter.php#comments



Lawyer who hunts

There are so many violations of state wildlife and firearm laws I do not even know where to begin. This officer should have his firearm privileges revoked in light of his poor judgment. Although I am a lawyer, most citizens of the State of Minnesota know you cannot just take matters into your hands and kill wildlife you deem are causing a hazard. You are required to contact the DNR and let them handle it. Furthermore you are not allowed to discharge a firearm within 500 feet of an occupied building or dwelling. The idea that this person is authorized to use lethal force by virtue of his status as a law enforcement officer, in light of his incredible ignorance of the law and poor judgment is absolutely frightening. I established the precedent for police liability for taking private property in this state so I know a little of what I speak. There is still the question of whether the citizen should have domesticated the deer and/or whether they had a property right in them.