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R. Giuliani June 22, 1999 I am greatly troubled by the response to the Rodeo in Queens and the killing of the escaped bull and wish to share some of my concerns. Several thousand people attended the same illegal Rodeo one month ago (in a parking lot near the entrance to the Queenboro Bridge, hardly a remote area of NYC) and the police did nothing. Only a complaint from the landlord of the building prompted any action this time. Officers were dispatched to the scene to close the Rodeo and issue summons for keeping unlicensed 'wild' animals. And with unbelievable foresight - not a single member of the Emergency Services Unit - the unit trained & equipped to deal with potentially dangerous animals - was among them. Instead of letting the Rodeo staff attempt to recapture the bull, who presumably had more experience handing the animal and instead of following normal police procedure which would have required that officers from the Emergency Services Unit to apprehend and tranquilize the animal - the police decided to chase it into the public streets. Firing from the safety of their squad cars, officers pursued with siren and lights flashing -- is it any wonder why the bull continued to run? Why anyone was endangered? Apparently the officers believed that there would be less peril if people had to avoid speeding vehicles and duck stray bullets as well. After cornering the wounded and undoubtedly terrified bull in a residential neighborhood, they decided to keep firing - not until the animal was trapped - not until the animal was stopped - until the animal was dead. Such blatant disregard for life (ANY life) is appalling, frightening and unacceptable in the people that we entrust ourselves to everyday. It is this eagerness to do battle, willingness to disregard proper procedure, using a gun first - not as a last resort - attitude, that causes public fear & mistrust. It is this callousness that exacerbates larger social problems. Why should we be worried about video games and movies desensitizing our children to violence when NY's 'finest' are gunning down animals in the middle of the street -- mothers are encouraging their kids to videotape it to sell to the local stations? And our city turns a blind eye to the so-called 'sports' which exploit the animals in the first place? Two similar incidents in Anaheim and Fort Worth occurred last year. In both cases, the bulls were recaptured in less dramatic fashion by personnel using ropes - causing considerably less risk and ultimately no harm to any human or animal involved. Aren't we, as New Yorkers', proud?
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