Family pet shot by deputy was ‘smart and loyal’
By Barb Pert Templeton
Four-legged family members certainly hold a special place in our hearts and Rocko, an Australian Shepherd mix who was shot and killed while running loose in Algonac in September, was no exception. Devasted owner, Maggie Meldrum calls her beloved pet her “best friend” and one who is sorely missed.
When St. Clair County Sheriff ‘s Deputy Daniel Jahr shot Rocko in a residential area in Algonac on Sept. 12 he stated the dog was aggressive and lunged at him but his actions have prompted an outcry from the community.
In response, Sheriff Mat King attended an Algonac City Council meeting on Oct. 3 where he stated the officer didn’t violate any department policies.
Rocko and Scarlet, a young Pitbull, also owned by Meldrum, were reported to be on the loose in the city with no tags or identification. When the deputy responded to the scene the dogs were in a backyard.
As his body camera showed, Jahr attempted to get the dogs to his vehicle and had a plate with some peanut butter on it which he held out while calling the dogs to him. As he made smacking noises and spoke in a soft voice the dogs continued to bark but then started to run towards him.
At that point the deputy shot two rounds into Rocko who quickly rolled over in the yard while the Pitbull ran away. Jahr is heard stating to dispatch: “I just discharged two rounds; the cattle dog charged me, God Damn it.”
Animal control was busy on other calls and couldn’t respond to the scene which prompted the deputy to take the call which Sheriff King said wasn’t unusual. Deputy Jahr was moved from the Algonac post after the incident and it was partially in response to death threats he got including one that stated they would come to his home and kill his own dog.
Blue Water Healthy Living caught up with Meldrum asking her to share some information about her pet and what happened to him.
Blue Water Healthy Living: Can you share a little about Rocko, how long you had him, his age and breed?
Maggie Meldrum: Rocko was an Australian Shepherd/Blue heeler mix. My fiancée and I got him from a farm by Three Rivers Michigan. He was 4-years old. He was the best dog I ever had, he was so loyal and very protective of me. Especially after my fiancé had passed away unexpectedly at Christmas about two years ago. We both had a hard time losing him. Rocko was very protective of me after he passed.
BWHL: Can you talk a little about his temperament and some of his favorite things?
This was one of the signs protesters were carrying in Algonac last weekend during a Justice for Rocko rally.
Meldrum: If I would leave, he would wait by the door until I got home and wouldn’t move. He enjoyed car rides to visit his grandma in Marine City And his favorite treat was baked chicken. He liked to play keep away with his toys and liked going on walks to the dog park.
BWHL: If you had to describe Rocko in one or two-words, what would you say?
Meldrum: In two words I would describe Rocko as smart and loyal
BWHL: Your other dog that was involved – name, age and breed. Were the two pets’ great friends?
Maggie Meldrum: My other dog is a female Pitbull named Scarlett. She was a rescue. She’s about a year old and a sweetheart who wouldn’t hurt a fly. A homeless guy asked my friend to take her because he couldn’t feed her. He said he had rescued her in Detroit because they were using her as a bait dog. She had scars all over face and cigarette burns on her. That’s how we got the name Scarlett from all the scars she had. She is a very good dog. She loves to cuddle and doesn’t leave my side. Her and Rocko were buddies, they loved to play together and got along well.
BWHL: How did you find out that your pets had gotten out of your yard?
Meldrum: The morning this happened I left to clean out my car in New Baltimore. They were in a fenced in yard and got sprayed by a skunk and then tried to chase it and got out of the fence. Soon as they realized they were gone they started walking around the neighborhood looking for them, they let neighbors know they got out and the neighbor was also driving around looking for them.
BWHL: Did the sheriff’s office contact you about your pets?
Meldrum: My aunt called the police station and they transferred her to animal control who told her they shot my dog because he charged the officer. When I got home my son told me they had gotten loose and what happened to Rocko. I was confused and devastated. That dog was my best friend. He meant so much to me. I was crying uncontrollably and just kept saying I want to know who this officer is that shot my dog and why.
BWHL: Has Rocko ever been aggressive when approached by people in the past?
A group of community members and supporters took to the streets of Algonac to protest the shooting and killing of a dog by a local deputy.
Meldrum: My dog has never been aggressive towards anyone. Rocko was a shepherd so he has a lot of energy and he jumps when he first sees people and gets excited like any shepherd does but never in an aggressive way. He has never been aggressive.
BWHL: Do you call the sheriff’s office yourself after the incident?
Meldrum: When I found out about what happened I called the police station and they had the officer call me back, he sounded annoyed with my call and told me what happened and said if I had a problem to make a complaint at the sheriff’s office and hung up. I feel like he handled the whole situation wrong. I just wish he would have left my dogs where they were and waited for animal control. I believe officers should receive better training on how to handle dogs that get loose because it happens every day.
BWHL: How did you get your second dog back home?
Meldrum: After that happened, she ran back to my house and somehow got back under fence back into are yard she was so scared. She was traumatized after she watched Rocko get shot.
BWHL: Why did you want to hold a rally in Algonac – what did you hope to accomplish?
Meldrum: We got the story out there to the community so hopefully there will be some changes in the future so this doesn’t happen again. I feel like the protest was a success.
BWHL: How are you feeling about the whole thing now – weeks later?
Maggie Meldrum got Rocko as a puppy from a breeder in Three Rivers, Michigan.
Meldrum: I just don’t understand why he had to shoot my dog. If they feel threatened, why can’t they use pepper spray or something that’s not going to kill the animal. I don’t want this to happen to another dog. Our dogs are like our family members and they need a voice and someone to stand up for them.
BWHL: How do you feel now about the sheriff’s department reaction to this whole thing?
Meldrum: Officer (Daniel) Jehl has been re-assigned because he was getting death threats. I never wanted that to happen that doesn’t help anything I apologize that that happened that was never my intention at all.
BWHL: Any thoughts on the community outcry for Rocko after this incident?
Meldrum: I want to thank everyone that came out to the council meeting and stood up and said something and for all the support at the protest. I want to thank everybody for getting the word out about this so we can try to get something changed so this doesn’t happen again.
BWHL: What will money raised via the GoFundMe be used for?
Meldrum: The GoFundMe page for Rocko is to go towards the signs for the protest, a memorial for Rocko, and the retainer for the lawyer.
Click here to donate to Rocko’s GoFundeMe.
