NOBLE POLICE VS. A SNAKE

This is a story about a slapstick answer by Noble, Oklahoma police department following an emergency phone call from a Noble citizen complaining of a snake in the tree by the birdhouse. Could the police come and get it out of the tree and yard. On the surface this is funny. I don't even know what kind of snake it was but it obviously was annoying the citizen and probably the birds too. Funnier still is that 3 officers answered, 3 Noble police for one snake in the tree. After attempting to get the snake to come on down and go away, they decided that one of them should shoot the darn thing. And so it was that one of the sharpshooters shot the snake. He missed, so he tried again and hit the snake spot on.

I suppose the citizen was ecstatic, the birds relieved, and the officer proud as he put up his smoking gun. But the story continues. Apparently, the bullet that missed the snake traveled through a small wooded area and straight through the head of a small boy who was fishing on a lake wharf with his grandpa. He died instantly.

Why did it take 3 police officers to take on a snake,and was it necessary to shoot the thing, discharging a firearm in a populated area of the city. Noble is a small city not far from Norman, Oklahoma, the home of the great University of Oklahoma . It is close enough to that City of Norman to make life convenient and far enough away to live nicely with a family away from traffic and crowds. People often choose a more rural area to raise a family because of all of the crimes of city life such as drive by shootings, burglary, domestic violence, apartment complexes. Families want smaller stores, schools, neighborhoods and so on. Safety, they want to be safe.

This shooting was indeed a tragic accident. The snake is gone. The grandpa will never be the same person again, neither he nor the family. The Noble police officer will never be the same either. He is devastated and may lose his job in the end. The city of Noble revisited the use of firearms by professionals in the enforcement of their duties. Neighbors and friends no longer feel quite as safe as previously. And of course, the boy is gone forever.

The funeral was today and attended by just about everyone. The police Chief apologized on behalf of the entire department. The family now begins healing. I personally do not think that in most non violent situations, guns are a solution. Let the snakes, however, beware.