People Are So Mad at a Police Officer Who Killed a Mountain Lion—Here’s Why

By Bethanie Hestermann

Published

12/12/2024

A police officer in Longview, Texas accidentally struck and killed a mountain lion while on patrol early Tuesday morning, according to a news release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and people are really angry. After the incident, TPWD staff took possession of the deceased lion—a 3-4-year-old female—to collect DNA and other biological samples, which will contribute to an ongoing research project to learn more about mountain lions in Texas.

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This was an accident, so why are people so mad? Because the Longview Police Department posted a photo of an officer holding the dead mountain lion up and smiling. It’s the smile that have some folks in an uproar.

“What a tasteless picture,” one person wrote on the Facebook post.

“Hate that he’s smiling,” wrote another. “It’s super sad and not funny at all.”

Several people commented that although it’s sad that this mountain lion died, it is good to know that these animals are out there. According to TPWD, mountain lions in Texas live primarily in the Trans-Pecos and parts of south Texas, but individuals sometimes travel long distances and can appear far from their native ranges.

It’s possible the officer was simply doing what you’re supposed to do when someone takes your photo: smiling (versus actually conveying joy about the circumstances). It’s also possible that seeing a mountain lion in Longview was such an unexpected thrill that the officer just had to smile at the weird turn of events.

See the photo of a police officer holding up a dead mountain lion here:

What do you think about the photo? Tasteless or innocent?