A Tennessee police officer who fired his gun and then pepper-sprayed a rogue squirrel running amok inside a general store has been dismissed from the force -- for not doing the paperwork.

The Mountain City cop, Jody Putnam, was sacked for refusing to fill out the paperwork required by officers who discharge their weapons, WBIR reported, not for opening fire or blasting pepper spray inside the Dollar General Store last Thursday while customers were shopping.

"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."

Putnam let loose with the pepper spray after being unable too get rid of the rodent by firing his service gun, perhaps as many as three times, it was reported.

By not doing the paperwork, at least he may be eligible for another enforcement job elsewhere. I have been doing things like that for so long that I've come to take it for granted.

We need to realize that a lot of the things we do every day, is special to nearly everyone else. And there are enough TV programs to emphasize it.

I have been on several jobs where the police were there first. Instead of saying, "Hey, you're pretty good." They said, "Well, I could have done that". And to be perfectly honest, if a cop was skilled enough to take a job from me, in front of the customer, I would have said something similar. Hey look, none of wants to feel like somebody else beat us to the punch, but if it happens, give them their due. Believe me, that's a whole lot more impressive!

Reminds of the time I came in behind the fire dept. Kitten trapped in a insert fireplace, they could hear it crying, sooo the firemen did what firemen do. Broke out the fire axes and ripped off the sheetrock, floor to ceiling. Must have scared the living daylights out of the kitten because it promptly disappeared and was not found. I came in the next morning heard it meow, stuck my head into the chaseway and scooped it up.

I think I would have fired the guy too but not for paper work!

Shooting inside a crowded store and spraying pepper spray? What was he thinking?? He would have gained more respect from me if he had just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sorry. Ain't my job!"

AGAIN... A case of exactly what I've been complaining about. Someone, WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER, not knowing the laws pertaining to wildlife and trying to take the law into his own hands, so to speak. Just like the city animal control guy here, working out of the police headquarters, illegally trapping and relocating coon. He's exactly the guy who should know better!

It's an education problem. We create laws, rules and regulations and then FAIL to teach folks about them.

LOL I love this state!

Barney Fife lives!