I can barely contain my anger. I am outraged this beautiful and much-loved family pet who also happened to do an extremely dangerous but worthwhile job has been destroyed in indecent and unbelievable haste.

What little respect I had left for the police force as a whole has now also been destroyed. How dare they refer to this living creature as "a piece of equipment"?

It seems to me the object after which Bruce was chasing was the thing which should have been put down, along with others of his ilk.

My husband, a security guard working night shifts, has to deal with "children" (I use the word advisedly) of this kind every night and is familiar with the sort of behaviour they exhibit.

My sincere commiserations to PC Tattum and his family.

- Judy Wilson, JudyWilsonhome@aol.com