Heroes of many types have graced these posts from stupid criminals to assorted "just plain idiots" who are continually out to prove the human race may not have advanced as far as its technology. In today's WTH, I focus the just plain silly from a story in my local Oregonian as written by The Associated Press.
Police Battle Hard Headed Gator
Police responding to a rare alligator sighting in suburban Kansas City, took quick action to dispatch the beast, shooting it in the head, as instructed, while it lurked menacingly in the weeds leading to a pond.
It wasn't until a second rifle shot bounced off the reptile's head that the officers realized the had mortally wounded a concrete lawn ornament.
A resident of a subdivision near the pond called police that evening to report that his children spotted the alligator while they were playing in some nearby woods.
After consulting a conservation agent, who told them to kill the gator if they felt it posed a danger, one of the officers shot it twice in the head before realizing something was up.
"It didn't move," said a police spokesperson. "They inched up closer and closer and discovered is was a mock-up of an alligator made to look very lifelike."
Where do I start? This scene is so Keystone Cops, so Boss Hogg, so Barney Fife get the idea yet? have a covered all the generations? that I just had to share it. But let me start at the beginning. It was a couple of kids trespassing in a neighbor's yard that started all this - Kids! - and dad didn't verify. Dad just called 911 in whiny, panicky, little girlie voice, crying for help.
So the cops show up and, yes, it was evening, and start sneaking up on the poor unsuspecting "reptile". Weren't they suspicious when the critter didn't skitter away at their approach? Or when it stayed still after the first shot...not writhing in death's throe? So they shoot again! Evil concrete killers.
What I want to know is how these two fine men in blue were able to shoe their faces back at the precinct. Do you think they might have been teased? Just a little? Noooo. Police would never do that to some of there own. Nope. Never.
One thing is certain and that is when the police finally got close enough to see this was no real alligator, the most assuredly said, "What the Hell?"
