I almost fell out of my office chair when I came across an article the other morning here in Kansas City.  It seems that even in neighboring Independence, Missouri we have a few law enforcement officials that need common sense.   Here is the attached article as posted by WDAF Fox 4 .

A report of a wandering alligator in the woods is what lead Independence Police officers to shoot at a concrete lawn ornament over the weekend, according to a statement released by police this week.

Rick Sheridan was working in his garage when he heard gunshots, and said he found officers lined up on the bank, shooting at the large reptile.

“The officer fired two rounds, and killed my concrete, ornamental alligator,” Sheridan said.

In a statement, Independence Police said a caller reported that his children had seen the alligator along a creek and his son had shown him the creature.  Police dispatch contacted the Missouri Conservation Department, who said that if the officer did locate the alligator, to go ahead and put it down.

According to the police statement, when police located the alligator in a wooded area, an officer fired two shots before realizing the animal was really made out of concrete.  When police contacted Sheridan, they apologized and Sheridan said he had placed the alligator there to keep kids off his property.  The officers advised Sheridan to use “No Trespassing” signs instead.

On Wednesday evening, Sheridan told FOX 4 News that he did not put the fake gator there to scare kids, but that he did not want kids and others trespassing on his property, which he says has been a problem. He also tells FOX 4 that he has repeatedly posted “No Tresspassing” signs, but that they were taken down by vandals.

Sheridan also says with a laugh that the incident has given him some notoriety around town.

“I walked into a hardware store, and two gals said ‘Look there, that’s the alligator guy’,” said Sheridan.

Now I don’t know about you, but I have owned a few concrete lawn ornaments in my day, and although they do look quite real, I do believe common sense would tell you, when it comes to wildlife, if it isn’t moving, isn’t blinking and ins’t breathing, it is either dead or not real!  If I were the home owner, I would send a bill to the city to pay for the damages to my concrete alligator.

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