Hundreds hold Colo. vigil for elk killed by police
 

speechless:

Hundreds hold Colo. vigil for elk killed by police

The elk was honored with a makeshift memorial of candles, songs and stories.
Several hundred people attended a vigil Sunday in Boulder, Colo., for the elk that was killed by a police officer. It had wandered into a neighborhood, where it was fatally shot by an on-duty police officer.
The officer has said the elk appeared injured before he shot it. He has been placed on leave.
Police say an off-duty officer who had called in sick the night the elk was killed took the carcass home to be processed for meat. The Boulder Daily Camera reported Monday (http://bit.ly/WpKRmq ) that officer has a website that offers taxidermy services.
The second officer also has been placed on leave. State wildlife officials are investigating.
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It's gotten out of control!! Too much Disney and talking animals!

LOL

I'll hold a vigil alright. I'd fire up the pit, invite all my sc brothers, get a keg, grill some steaks and have a great time.

better article!!

A couple hundred people turned out tonight to light candles, sing and tell stories as they mourned a beloved bull elk killed on Mapleton Hill in Boulder.
"He was a beautiful animal," said Nancy Platt, of Boulder. "He was hurting nobody. He didn't deserve what he got."
The elk was fatally shot by an on-duty Boulder police officer, who has since been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the results of an internal investigation.
A second off-duty officer, suspected of assisting in loading the animal's body into a pickup truck and taking it away to be processed for meat, also was placed on leave.
Vigil organizer Jim Riemersma said he wanted to give the neighborhood an opportunity to grieve, celebrate and find "a little bit of closure." The vigil was held on Mountain View Road at the site of a tree memorial and near the yard where the elk was shot.
"I know a lot of us have had a lot of anger, a lot of questions, a lot of uncertainty," he said. "Tonight's a celebration, a celebration of the elk. We loved him. But I think he loved us, too, because he returned to this neighborhood."
Still, emotions ran hot, with multiple calls to "fire the cops" and "jail the poachers." A meeting between Boulder Chief Mark Beckner and residents concerned about the shooting is planned for Monday.
"People live here because we love the wildlife," said Esther Parson, who lives in the foothills west of Boulder. "To murder an animal who feels like he's part of the neighborhood is despicable."
The vigil included a mix of people from the neighborhood and animal lovers from the surrounding area. Meghan Stephens, of Louisville, said she came with her husband and 14-month-old daughter to lend support to her sister, who lives in the neighborhood.
"It was a beautiful, beautiful elk," she said.
The elk had been spotted for several weeks on Mapleton Hill between 9th and 11th streets, and residents of the area gave conflicting reports as to whether it had behaved aggressively toward humans.
Numerous people living in the neighborhood insisted that it had not, that it appeared to be healthy, and said that they considered it their "guardian." The elk had been a regular visitor for two years, they said.
"He was part of the neighborhood," said resident Bobby Brown.
George Pappageorge said he would see the elk eating berries on his bushes when he checked the mail, adding they would be almost "nose to nose" without any aggression from the elk.
"It's sad he won't be coming back," he said.

We are done you hear me!! DONE!!

What would it have taken for these people to realize it's a wild animal and unpredictable. What if one of their kids would have been outside playing and this so called freindly elk would have charged their child and seriously hurt them.

ban elks!!!!

lol!!!!!!!!!!!! That's awesome

"He was a beloved animal" hahaha stop the madness!

The officer was placed on leave!?!?!?

"He was hurting nobody. He didn't deserve what he got."

Breaking news from NBC.... This elk matches the description of a perp wanted in montana for questioning regarding a missing picknick basket, several assault charges on other male elks, and several child support cases... it is said that the suspect often would wander into places looking for a female, fight other males for dominance, breed then leave the harem.

Sounds like the cows qualify for welfare and food stamps. And the calves he produced qualify for social security since their father is dead. Might as well humanize em all the way since we're holding vigils

Could have sent Lafayette Police, they would have shot the family dog also.

I used to live near Boulder and, spent a bunch of time in Boulder...They are a whole different breed! Realistically, all they ever seem to accomplish there is smoking dope and complaining about the gov't. It's a city FULL of tree-hugging liberals!

I wish I could come to my job at night, roll a deer, take it to be processed for meat and get a couple weeks off paid?

That would be friggin sweet

X2!!!!!!!

"tonights a celebration of the elk"

....lmao!!
if i heard her say that id be like " bish its a celebration of dez nutz, get the f8ck outts hear with that granola azz"

I would probably get run out of the state of CO if I lived there.

It would be a blood bath.

Call PETA...