Police officer’s attitude upset house fire victim

Recently, my husband and I had a house fire and I called the Cedar Rapids Fire Department. Before the Fire Department arrived, a Cedar Rapids police officer arrived.

My husband was still in the house and I was outside with our black lab. The dog and I were trying to get out of the smoke-filled house. I had my dog in a harness and on a leash. When the officer arrived, he yelled at me to get either he or she (referring to the dog) in a cage immediately.

Mango, our lab, was not barking, jumping or acting as if he was about to attack. He is a 2-year-old that is one of the most well-behaved dogs in our neighborhood.

I was not about to take Mango back into a home that had a fire burning in the attic. The officer did not ask if there was anyone in the house or if anyone was injured. Being the first responder, it would make sense that a police officer would ask those questions.

The CRFD then arrived and took over. Thank you to the CRFD. The firefighters they were outstanding, nice and compassionate.

I called the CRPD and left a message with internal affairs to express my concern with the officer's attitude and have not been called back. As we are taxpayers, the Police Department should have treated us better.

Kelly Green-Howard

Cedar Rapids