HPD above the law?

To the editor:
    On Monday, April 27, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a young police woman pulled into my driveway, got out of her cruiser and enticed my sleeping dog into her vehicle and drove away. It should have been obvious that someone was home as my garage and house doors were both open. All of this was witnessed by my neighbor and her son. The officer never asked them who the dog belonged to.
    My neighbor's son came running over and told me what had happened. I immediately called the Houlton Police Department. They told me that the officer would call me. Twenty minutes later, I called them again and told them that I wanted my dog back! I also said that they had no right to come on my property and take my dog. Again I was told that they would have the officer call me.
    I called an attorney, who contacted the HPD. He called me back and told me the animal control officer would bring my dog back. The animal control officer called me and told me he would bring my dog back in 30 to 40 minutes. I told him I wanted my dog back two hours ago and that they had no right to take her!
    He did bring my dog back and said there had been a mistake. When I said someone owes me an apology, he replied that it wouldn't be from him. He said that he was doing me a favor by bringing my dog back and if I wanted an apology to get it from the HPD.
    On Tuesday, I went to the HPD and complained to the Chief of Police. I told him that I wanted an apology. The chief felt that the policewoman didn't do anything wrong, just used poor judgment. I feel that this is in complete violation of my Fourth Amendment right. She stole my dog! The chief said that she would not be back to work until Friday and he would talk to her. I told him that I felt that she owed me an apology.
    My neighbor has a day care center and the children were all very upset when the "mommy cop", as they called the policewoman, took my dog, Lacey. She talked it over with the involved parents and they all decided that it should not go unreported. On Thursday, she reported it to the HPD.
    On Friday, the female police officer showed up at the day care center and told the children that she thought the dog was sick and she was taking him to the doctor. She had taken the dog to the pound. If 4-year-old children witnessed the abduction of my dog and knew it to be wrong, shouldn't we expect better judgment from our police officers? We pay their salary and they are here to protect and serve. I, as a law-abiding citizen, have become the victim of HPD for owning a skinny dog!
    Do we have a police force that is above the law? Do we need officers that can't admit that they made a mistake and don't even have the common courtesy to apologize for it?
    All my neighbors and anyone who knows me and my dog, know that she does not roam and I do not neglect her. This dog is like my kid. She has been with me 24/7 for the last 13 years, even going to work with me.
    If my neighbors had not witnessed my dog being taken, I would not have had any idea where she had gone, as she is always nearby. But to be abducted right from my own private driveway by the police is just downright mind-boggling. I think you will agree that an apology is definitely in order.
Thomas Greenlaw
Houlton