____________________________________________________________________
Gabriel Falcon
AC360° Writer
A Mississippi animal control officer accused of shooting to death scores of dogs was fired Wednesday from his position as a public servant, authorities said today. “As a result of not following policy, I asked for his termination” Canton Police Chief Vicky McNeill told CNN.
Alonzo Esco was required to capture stray, lost, or abandoned dogs and transport them to a city-contracted private kennel. Instead of following procedure, Esco allegedly killed at least 100 dogs and dumped them in a public water way.
McNeill said Esco is the subject of an ongoing investigation, but would not disclose further details about the case. She did, however, have a message to anyone who may have wanted to adopt the animals. “I want to apologize for any wrong doing if any has been done at all,” she said.
An animal protection organization has filed a complaint against Esco. “We will not let go of this,” Doll Stanley, director of In Defense of Animals, said in a media statement. "It is absolutely appalling and disgusting that an animal control officer working for any municipality would take it upon himself to violate city policy by shooting animals entrusted to his care.”
Debbie Young, a volunteer for the group, told CNN that investigators are looking into whether the animals were being used as bait for a dog-fighting ring.
She also said her sources told her Esco confessed to killing the dogs because he was “too lazy to drive them” to the kennel.
In Defense of Animals is hoping criminal charges will be filed against Esco. But Heath Hall, spokesman for the District Attorney for Madison and Rankin Counties, told CNN animal cruelty in Mississippi is a misdemeanor, not a felony.
“The only way the D.A. would get involved in this case is if the county prosecutor asked us to get involved.. or if there was evidence a felony was committed,” Hall said.
“It’s an awful situation,” Hall said. “To do something like this is very disturbing. But it’s not the D.A.’s case.”
For more crime coverage go to cnn.com/crime.
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Surely taking his paycheck to do one humane thing while doing a totally different inhumane thing was major "FRAUD" and that must be a felony of some sort even in Mississippi. Taking money under false pretenses is fraud. Get him on 100 counts of "FRAUD" and put him away forever!
Is "Polluting the waterways" or something along those lines a felony? 100 counts of that, 100 counts of animal cruelty...there has to be 100 counts of some felony somewhere in here. What about that he "Defrauded" his employer and the people of those counties. Is that a felony? Could you get 100 counts of that out of this?
Put this man away!
We really need to weed out the bad animal cops, regular cops, bad everything this really sucks..
wow i already dont like this man!!!! How cruel can u be to kill inocent dogs, they're precious!!!!
I am a person who loves my dogs but if people dont spay and neuter thier pets and keep their pets confined then you can expect bad things to happen. The difference between shooting them and putting them to sleep humanely is really insignificant when you consider the fact that either way another pet is needlessly killed. Its like blaming society for bad parenting.
This guy is a POS! I hope he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We trust people in that kind of public position and he violated his oath as a sworn official. He should be shot as well.
A scumbag like his alter ego Michael Vick...
This person is a poor excuse for a human being and absolutely disgusting. It's a shame that Mississippi doesn't take animal cruelty more seriously.
It is so sad that this is not considered a felony. How can someone go around shooting 100s of dogs and dump their bodies and just get a slap on the wrist, especially someone who was entrusted to help them? Maybe if all the lawmakers and DA's offices around this country made the intentionally killing of an animal a felony, then we wouldn't have so many of these stories to read about. This is just disgusting.
It's not a felony to kill 100 dogs???? What the heck is. This isn't a policy violation, its a criminal act, the totality of killing 100 dogs certainly should warrant an upgrade to a felony. Under this theory if I kill 100 people, its only 1 murder right? I mean seriously this is crazy. It's time for people to take a good hard look as what defines us as human beings and question whether were doing enough to protect those lives under ours. Frankly the more I know about the human race the less I want to be a part of it. Seems Mississippi needs to make some changes to its laws!!!
This, so called, "situation" is not okay. The only action being taken, him being fired, is far from the appropriate steps that should have been taken. I'm demanding that a criminal investigation begin immediately!
This is completely disgusting. How could someone be so cruel? Those dogs deserved the chance to be adopted and live happy lives. I can't believe animal cruelty is only a misdemeanor in the state of Mississippi. They need to get with the times. The statement by the police chief Vicky McNeill alone exposes the ignorance that is obviously pervasive in their community. "We apologize for any wrong doing IF ANY HAS BEEN DONE AT ALL." As if the animals themselve didn't matter, only families who might have wanted to adopt them. As Gandhi said, "The greatness of a society can be judged by how it's animals are treated."
I guess we've got a long way to go.
Now that really is a crime. Better check everything out about this guy. He could be a serial killer like that BKT nut! Sounds like he was enjoying it , to have killed so many. I say let the FBI check him out. Only a nut would kill so many helpless animals.
I hope he rots in jail...what a jerk
Killing 100 dogs is a misdemeanor?!? This psychopath should be thrown in jail for an extended period of time!
I cant believe that all of this would only result in a misdemeanor. Thats disgusting. this is a good example where people need take the law into their own hands.
I can not beleave this guy is not gonna get charged with anything. This is horrible.
She should be tried for animal abuse and given the death sentence ...by firing squad!
Well, It should be a felony since studies show that people who kill animals usually lead up to killing people. The lord says an eye for an eye. I think he should be treated the same way he treated them dogs.
I hope those babies get some justice.
Wow...sad
I just can not see how anyone could stand there and shoot or kill a innocent dog that can't defend itself against you. I just don't get that. Alonzo just had to be a very uncaring sick man!
I am shocked that they haven't charged him with anything at all. Heck they could at least get him for animal cruelty!
Cindy...Ga.
This is a sad commentary on the South. Doesn't help the image at all. However, I am glad this turkey was canned. Hopefully he will face the proper consequences, but I doubt it will have much of an effect on folks like him. Unfortunately, there cruel people every where who don't value life of ANY sort, so it's no big deal to them. Unreal. Thanks Anderson, for posting this story, as sad as it is...