How could you ever trust the testimony of an officer of the law that has perpetuated a hoax and gained money from it? I believe the greater harm is that the waters of Cryptozoological research have been further muddied as a result of this fraud. For people that believe that Cryptozoology is a fool's errand, look into the giant squid, the coelacanth and other creatures formerly said to exist although there was no concrete proof. Now there is proof that these creatures DO exist, and in time maybe Bigfoot will be discovered as well. There are new species being discovered every day. If Bigfoot IS found, let us hope it/they will be allowed to live out its/their life in peace without being destroyed by buffoons such as these two from Georgia seeking only monetary gain and not the truth. I personally hope Bigfoot is never discovered as I like to have a little mystery and wonder left in my life. Do we have to explain everything these days?
There are things in this world that will NEVER be explained, because they aren't meant to be. It is just a fact and a fact I can live with...can you?

Chief Turner...you going to fire other officers who have or get a DUI? how about cheat on their spouse? Lie on their taxes? You act as if your officers walk on water. I agree his credibility is shot..but to be fired? I think his fellow officers would have handled this with a cold shoulder approach, the embarassment would've been enough...along with a little more time off..unpaid of course. Think about it the next time you have 2-3 beers and then drive home. We've lost all our common sense.

So someone calls and says they found bigfoot, and we have his body on ice. Somebody sends him a big finders fee in advance, and the news media, eager to be the first to break the story, eat it up. Now we are all suprised that it was a hoax? Come on. If I ran into something in the woods that was as big as the thing they describe, everyone would know immediately from my screaming. People seem to be drawn to crap like this...the marketplace at work. Perhaps fraud charges should be brought, but losing his job? He wasnt even working! Cops are people too. They laugh, cry, lie, joke, divorce, drink, smoke, and drive just like the rest of us. Dont believe me? Check an off-duty cop sometimes driving down the road 85mph tailgating while talking on his cell phone.

The guy was on leave to recoup after being shot. He was not on vacation and certainly if he was able to place a body that weighed 500LBS in a freezer, he could be at work. Kudo's to the Chief as he has now set the example as he shold of no tolerance for this kind of behavior while on sick leave. This is the reason all across the country workers have lost full pay benefits because of a few who thought they could get away with it. I was angry when I lost full pay when sick as I had 27 years perfect attendance, then had a nasty bout with asthma. I was out 3 times in a short period as it kept comming back. I was put on probation for my job because of this, yet there was always a high sick rate at thanksgiving time for hunting. You knew who the hunters were! No wonder workers can't get decent benefits. The cheif was right this time and the other officers will think twice before attempting any false sick time or doing stupid stuff like this. For a cop, he sure is dumb, not knowing fraud when he see's/does it. He should be charged with fraud, pay back insurance money recieved during these shinanagans and realize he now has made it impossible for him to get any kind of job anywhere. What a dumbass.

Seriously, I can't believe what I'm reading. "Who cares what the officer did on his own time"? So, police officers should be able to commit fraud, lie, and steal, in their spare time? That isn't relevent to their job and credibility as a Police Officer?

Why someone would support having known criminals in their police force is beyond me. Would you like this guy to show up at your house to conduct an investigation? You would actually trust him?

Unbelievable.

Well, what would you expect from the chief of police? They all have 'blue uniform-itus' where they can't think or reason for themselves, much less listen and reason with anyone else. And this apparently includes the chief. Every year it seems to be getting worse, letting out yet another notch on the belt of stupid.

So, what did the chief accomplish? It would appear from what we know about officers that he fired a subordinate who does not think the law applies to him while on the job. But, wait! The chief said he fired him because of what he did while he was on leave. Right? Well, everyone, we have just let out another notch on that belt of stupid. And from the looks of it, a bigger notch, too.

So, what if a fellow officer takes a vacation to Lock Ness and brings back photos that show a few humps and he sold them to some sucker who just can't get enough of the legend? Or what if an officer said he saw a ghost and sold some videos of him, but later said he made it all up? Will the chief fire that officer as well? I believe we are so way into stupid that I would have to say, "Yes.”

The bottom line is this: Who cares what the officer did on his own time? If he wants to make a fool of himself like all other human beings then let the people who were stupid enough to give him money for his hoax take him to court. That is between him and those people. Not his chief.

If anyone should be fired, it should be the chief. After all, all of us pay his salary and he can't seem to proactively handle embarrassment that sometimes comes with the territory of supervising, and it is certainly outweighed by the cost of replacing an employee who is loyal enough to stay 6 years, even after having taken a bullet. Ever though the new fellow might not be so courageous?

Doesn't all of this tell you something? Come on, people! Think!

The same kind of person that would accept a salary that was taken from others under duress.

"Turner says he just doesn't get it and asks why would a six-year police veteran recently shot in the line of duty use his medical leave to perpetrate such a hoax?"

Answer: Because he's an idiot.

what pathetic jerks !