MOUNTAIN CITY, TN (WBIR) – A Tennessee police officer has been fired after displaying heavy force in an attempt to rid a Dollar General Store of a squirrel. The incident occurred last Thursday in Mountain City, when according to police documents, now-former Officer Jody Putnam found himself at the right place at the right time. Or the wrong place at the wrong time. Documents state that Putnam happened to be inside the Dollar General Store at the same time employees noticed a squirrel. That’s when Putnam sprang into action, discharging his firearm at the squirrel inside the store. Unsuccessful, he moved on to option 2: pepper spray.
“There was a lot of people that come out and just like me they came out and they were coughing and a hacking,” Carl Duffield told WJHL-TV. “It was comical, but I’m sure they didn’t feel that way – the customers that came out.”
In Mountain City, whenever officers discharge their weapons, they are required to alert their supervisors and provide a written statement. Putnam refused to file a report and was subsequently fired by the town’s Board of Mayor and Alderman.
No information was given as to the condition of the squirrel other than the fact that he was dead.