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On Monday, I posted an installment of “This Just In,” one of the regular features on this blog. “This Just In” is a mish-mash of brief, slice-of-life stories from the news that are either funny or ridiculous or both.

The installment in question included this item:

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MOUNTAIN CITY, TENNESSEE — A veteran city police officer was fired last month after he  discharged his weapon inside a Dollar General store, killing a squirrel.

In September, Officer Jody Putnam responded to a call from the store manager, who reported that a squirrel was scampering around inside the store and frightening customers. Initially, Putnam pepper-sprayed the squirrel, but the fumes spread and sent customers running for the exits, hacking and coughing.

Putnam then drew his handgun and fired multiple shots, killing the squirrel. The remaining customers stampeded from the store in panic.

Mountain City officers are required by city ordinance to file a written report after a weapon is discharged. Putnam refused to file a report and was terminated by the City Council.

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Yesterday, I received an email from an informed reader that included former officer Putnam’s own version of the squirrel incident, which he sent to a local TV station.

It contains much surprising information — including (1) the fact that the squirrel, far from being blown away as news reports stated, was captured, taken from the building, and released unharmed, and (2) the fact that Mr. Putnam is running for county sheriff next year. Wow.

Maybe, the informed reader gently suggested, I should post Putnam’s side of the story, too.

Indeed, I should. Here, in the interest of full disclosure, is former officer Putnam’s account, complete and unedited.

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In late September I received a call from my 911 dispatch stating there was a squirrel inside the Dollar General Store on Church Street in Mountain City. At the time of receiving the call from 911 dispatch they stated to me that they were unable to get Animal Control or the T.W.R.A. to respond to the incident.

Upon my arrival I was told by the store manager that a squirrel was loose inside the building, and she was afraid it may bite one of the customers, and that it was also destroying merchandise inside the store.

At that time she directed me to the shelving inside the store, stating the animal was behind the shelf and between the wall. A short time later we were able to locate the animal in the bottom base of one of the shelves.

At that time I placed phone calls again trying to see if I could get Animal Control to respond, but again a response from them was not available.

I told the store manager this, and she stated we have to do something because I am concerned the animal may bite someone.

I told her my resources were limited in what I had to take care of the situation, and that I did not have any equipment to catch the animal.

She asked me if I could spray the animal in an effort to try to get it out of the building and I stated to her you know you are asking me to deploy my chemical weapon on this animal.

She said yes I know that, but if we can’t get a response from Animal Control, then we have to do something to remove the animal.

I told her that if I deployed my chemical weapon on the animal that I was not concerned about the pepper agent causing a problem because it has to be in direct contact with the skin, but that there would likely be a small amount of CS gas that would disperse in the building.

She stated she understood, but to go ahead and try to get it out. I told her to turn up her ventilation system, and open the doors to the building as well as suggesting placing fans at the door to aid in ventilation of the building.

She took this action and with the help of a customer we located the animal again in the base cabinet, and I deployed a one second burst of chemical spray onto the animal.

The animal did not come out and exit the building like I hoped it would, but instead continued it’s way toward the middle of the building, still staying behind the shelves, and out of my reach.

I then received another phone call and was told that they were still unable to get Animal control. I then relayed this information to the store manager.

At this time she asked me if I could shoot the animal. I advised her that with the type of ammo I carried that shooting the animal with that ammo would be overkill, and I would rather not kill it if possible. I then checked an found I had a low grain round of ammo and told her that I could use this round, but my intention was to stun the animal, not to kill it.

She said that was fine. I instructed her to get a heavy towel to throw on the animal so we could get it out of the building. I also told her to instruct everyone inside the building to move to the far side wall away from me for their safety, and to create a cover for them, and also told her to advise everyone that there was a possibility they may hear a handgun go off inside the building.

I then checked outside of the building to make sure nobody could be harmed if the round discharged made it through the wall.

I then re-entered the building went to the area where the animal was at, as well as the store manager. She then vacated the area also going to the far side of the building.

I then started watching the animal and as it traveled down the shelves coming closer to me I took my pistol and when it was directly in front of me I discharged one shot into the shelf, and the wall at a distance of around 7 to 10 inches from myself and the wall.

The animal then exited the shelf started running through the store, and I was running after it. As I closed on the animal I holstered my firearm, and stepped on the animal’s tail to catch it.

At that time I instructed the store manager to throw the towel on the animal wrap it up and head out the door with it, at which time she did, and the animal was released unharmed.

As for the rumors of screams inside the building, none was heard except from the animal once I caught it.

I was then notified that Animal Control was on their way to which I told them to disregard because I had already taken care of the problem.

As for Mr. Duffield that spoke on the news, he was not in the building except the time I arrived, and we were talking about how to get the animal. He left the building as soon as the burst of chemical weapon was deployed.

The reason I took the measures I took was because I was concerned that if I refused to take action after being dispatched on the call, and had I have not taken some action to resolve the problem, and the animal did in fact bite someone inside the building I could have been liable for that if I did not take some kind of action to resolve the problem.

It was a damned if you do and a damned if you don’t situation, and I had to make a judgement call.

I can assure you that I exercised every precaution I could take to ensure no human life was in jeopardy but that of mine only.

I am trained to preserve life, and property. Not jeopardize it.

This incident happened on a Thursday evening just around 5pm and I heard nothing else about this incident until the following Tuesday when I was not working, and I recieved a call from the Chief. He wanted to know why there was no report on the animal call, which I told him there was not one, and found this request unusual because we normally have never been required to file a report on an animal call.

I asked him why do you need a report, what is going on, and he stated to me “you violated department policy by discharging a firearm inside a business” and then requested me to come to the department over the incident.

I then made a phone call to the Sergeant of the Department and asked him what was going on, and he stated to me the Assistant Chief and an Investigator are at the Dollar Store trying to get the bullet out of the wall, and the Chief has me out trying to obtain statements from people about the incident.

I then called the Chief back, and asked him not once, but three times if I was under investigation, and after asking for the third time he stated “I guess if that’s what you want to call it” I then advised him I was not issuing any written report, or statements until I spoke to counsel, due to not being notified I was under investigation, and not being advised of my Garrity Rights.

I did however secure my department policy manual, and did not find any prohibition of discharging a firearm inside of a business, but I did find policy stating that officers were permitted to kill dangerous or injured animals.

I contacted counsel who in turn contacted the city attorney about the matter, and due to a city council meeting being held on that evening inquiry was made by my counsel as to whether this matter was going to be discussed at the meeting that evening. The city attorney stated to my counsel that he was told the matter was not going to be heard that evening.

I called the city manager and asked her if the matter was going to be heard that evening, and she told me no it wasn’t. I then asked her to notify the Mayor because I wanted a work session scheduled with the Mayor, Alderman, and Chief of Police so we could discuss this incident. She stated she would make the notification.

Later that evening while I was at home I received a phone call from the Chief stating the council had voted to terminate me for insubordination.

The issue that I was told was not going to be heard that night was heard after all, and I was not notified of it so that I could be present to argue my case.

Am I guilty of insubordination, yes I am because I have worked there for 5 years, have put down several animals as well as other officers, and at no time was I ever told a report was required, a handgun discharge report was required, or notification of a supervisor was required when a firearm was discharged.

Yes it exists in the policy manual, but that policy was never enforced until this incident, and if you enforce policy, then policy is to be followed every day, not just during a conflict.

I have knowledge of other incidents that have occurred inside the department that was in direct violation of department policy, should have resulted in disciplinary action or termination but these incidents were not addressed.

That is the reason I have taken the action I have, and I am almost certain not on handgun discharge report exists inside the department until after this incident, and my termination.

It is no secret that I am seeking the Office of Sheriff in Johnson County in the 2014 election, and I know that some people are not happy about that decision.

I can’t help but to believe there are political factors playing into this situation, especially after news media are notified two weeks after this incident occurred, and after I rebutted a story published on the front page of our local newspaper concerning the incident with totally inaccurate information.

The same inaccurate information that was allowed to be aired on your station, that in turn went nation wide.

The sad thing is when your station approached my Chief that day concerning this matter, I had been in his office even after being terminated, and told him what had occurred at the Dollar Store. Instead of giving a statement then he told me he did not tell the news media anything, but they did get a copy of my personnel file. To which I responded to him I was not concerned about the personnel file because there was nothing in it.

Your news story aired that evening, and I watched a 20 year career destroyed in about 5 minutes. And my Chief would not answer the phone after the story aired.

He actually knew what happened, but wouldn’t make a statement to your station.

So this is the actual events that occurred, and why I chose to stand up for myself, and that is why I have retained the Southern States P.B.A. to represent me and the city government has been notified, as well as a freedom of information request was filed last Tuesday evening in writing to the entire city council and the Chief of Police for release of copies of any and all handgun discharge reports on file per department policy, and copies of any and all reports filed by officers in reference to animal calls.

Today is the seventh day of the freedom of information request, and I have got no response from the city, and no response has been directed to my attorney either.

In reference to your eye witness account of the Dollar Store incident. I remember her she was a white female with dark hair approx 5ft to 5ft 3 carrying a child, and pushing an empty buggy. As I was going after the squirrel I had my firearm at my side. Not in a drawn position. And the reason the firearm was at my side was due to the fact I had removed my magazine containing my duty ammo, and chambered one low grain bullet and I did not replace the magazine into the firearm. When a Glock handgun is fired with one round only, and no magazine in the pistol it results in a empty magazine action that automatically locks the slide back after the last round is fired.

As i approached the eye witness I activated the slide release on the firearm so I could holster it. But at that time the firearm was completely empty. As for any statements I was alleged to have made the only thing I recall is yelling at the store manager to throw the towel on the animal and remove it from the store. Based upon the eye witness’s location inside the store which was near the entrance, and the fact that she was pushing an empty shopping cart, I could only assume she had just entered the building, and was totally unaware of what was going on inside the building.

But I can assure you 100% I did not have my firearm drawn in a defensive firing position at her. It was an empty Glock with a slide locked back in my right hand down to my side, and once I released the slide lock I was able to holster my firearm.

Jody Putnam

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Life, especially in a small town, can be stranger than fiction and equally as entertaining.

And if Mr. Putnam is elected county sheriff next year, it will be even more so.