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Vol. 130, No. 7 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830
Established in 1882
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - $1.00
Why did Po Po die?
Chief investigates allegations that officer lied about drug dog
[email protected]
One day, Waynesboro’s Chief
of Police was attending a huge
memorial service for a police
dog killed in the line of duty.
Two days later, he was neckhigh in allegations that the
canine’s trainer was pulling the
wool over the eyes of the public.
Police Chief Karl E. Allen
says he is personally investigating allegations that Officer
Bruce Petitt lied about the circumstances leading up to the
euthanization of his two-yearold German Shepherd “Po Po.”
All the while, a number of
Waynesboro police officers and
investigators are standing behind Petitt. They say the veteran dog trainer has no reason
to lie and is living with a tough
decision he made in the best
interest of the dog.
THE BACKGROUND
Officer Petitt elected to have
Po Po put down on the morning of May 14 – less than 36
hours after he told police supervisors the dog had “gotten
into something” and was acting
strangely.
In a lengthy interview with
The True Citizen on May 17
(three days after the dog’s death
but prior to accusations), Petitt
said the dog was having seizures
and alternating between normal
behavior and short episodes in
which he went into “attack
mode” and did not recognize
anyone. Petitt said that in the
end, Po Po quit eating, drinking and producing urine and
appeared to be on the verge of
a physical breakdown. Petitt
said he labored over his decision but felt that even if Po Po
survived, his erratic behavior
made him a danger to the public.
Petitt said he believed his dog
ingested chemicals used in making methamphetamine while
helping clear a Magnolia Acres
apartment where officers were
serving two arrest warrants on
the night of May 12. He said
Po Po walked through some
type of liquid in the hallway
and later licked his paws.
Petitt stated he didn’t make a
connection until Po Po got sick
and his veterinarian Dr. Bruce
Gradous suggested the symptoms were “meth related.”
Neither Petitt nor any other
officer filed a report indicating
meth making chemicals might
be inside the apartment.
THE ALLEGATIONS
Less than 48 hours after officers from all over Georgia and
South Carolina drove to
Waynesboro to memorialize the
fallen canine, Chief Allen got
an email from Waynesboro veterinarian Dr. Sarah Ford that
sparked the internal investigation.
Since then, the chief has spoken to both Dr. Gradous, who
first examined Po Po, and to Dr.
Ford, who euthanized him.
“Both medical professionals
have told me the dog was not
poisoned by meth … and that
they never told Petitt that he
was,” Chief Allen said, noting
that toxicology tests were also
negative. “It was just the opposite.”
The chief said Dr. Gradous
declined a request for a written
statement but verbally indi-
cated, as did Dr. Ford, that there
seemed to be problems between
the handler and the dog that were
not related to illness or chemical exposure.
Chief Allen shot down several rumors circulating around
town, including one that Petitt
euthanized the dog to collect
insurance money. “There is no
insurance,” he said.
The chief contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation but
said agents did not take the case
because there was no criminal
intent.
WHY SHE CAME
FORWARD
According to Dr. Ford, the
dog she euthanized was perfectly healthy and normal acting.
She admits having reservations about putting Po Po down
but says she did so because Officer Petitt owned the dog and
insisted he was dangerous.
“When someone tells you a
dog is dangerous, you can’t argue with that,” Dr. Ford said.
– See Po Po, page 9
Officer Bruce Petitt, pictured at the dog’s memorial
service, said Po Po was a danger to his family and
the public.
BOE looks at
possible cuts
THEY
DID IT
By Anne Marie Kyzer
Staff-Anne Marie Kyzer
[email protected]
Reducing staff, increasing class sizes and scaling back the number of days in the school year are all on the table for Burke County
Public Schools.
The money has to come from somewhere if Burke County
Board of Education members aim to avoid raising taxes or depleting reserve funds as they
deal with massive funding cuts
CLASS SIZES
from the state level. The school
On Monday, the State Board of
tax rate in Burke County hasn’t
Education removed the cap on class
been raised in 10 years, and
sizes to allow school systems more
flexibility as they deal with budget
BOE members have voiced
cuts. Fewer classrooms translates
even more opposition to an into fewer teachers needed.
crease since the economy beSo far, Burke County has avoided
gan its decline.
raising
class sizes to the current
Currently, they are looking
maximums.
to approve a spending plan for
Last year, some elementary
fiscal year 2011, which could
school classes added a few more
include even more uncertainstudents, but other grade levels reties and state cuts than 2010.
mained essentially the same.
Though the millage rate
Local school districts will be rewon’t be an issue until the
quired to submit a local board resolution to the Georgia Department
year’s end, decisions made now
of Education before class size maxiconcerning the budget will de– See Cuts, page 3
mums may exceed the current requirements.
MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE
Burke County veterans want the public to help them remember their
fallen comrades at a Memorial Day service, 11 a.m. Monday, May 31 at
the American Legion Post 120, located on Liberty Street in Waynesboro.
Guest Speaker will be retired Lt. Col. John Haley of the United States Air
Force. After the program, a procession will travel to the Burke County
Court House where wreaths will be placed. All participants are invited
remain at the Liberty Street post for a picnic hosted by American Legion
Post 270. After lunch, flags will be placed on the gravesides of fallen
soldiers.
This Friday, Legion members will put out nearly 140 wooden crosses
memorializing those who served their county. Along Liberty Street, 74
crosses will be placed in memory of soldiers who died from battle
Courtesy of George Jones
Nearly 300 graduates
crossed the stage at commencement ceremonies at
Burke County High School
and Edmund Burke Academy Sunday and Monday. At
right, BCHS graduates
Ashley Habersham and
Shermonica Griffin wait to be
escorted into the auditorium.
Below, EBA senior Nathan
Kittrell leads his classmates
in a song honoring the late
Mallory Johnson, a classmate they lost in an accident
in the eighth grade.
Staff – Elizabeth Billips
By Elizabeth Billips
injuries. Directly in front of the post, more than 60 crosses will be erected
in memory of deceased Legion members.