Texas Police Officer Criticized for Smiling Photo With Mountain Lion Killed by Patrol Car

LONGVIEW, TX - A Longview police officer posed for a photo with a mountain lion he struck and killed with his patrol car, sparking mixed reactions on social media.

The Longview Police Department shared the photo on Facebook on Dec. 11, explaining that the officer accidentally hit the animal and later euthanized it due to severe injuries.

The unnamed officer’s choice to smile and pose with the animal’s carcass drew criticism, with some commenters calling the image “tasteless” and “super sad.” Others defended the photo, noting the potential danger mountain lions pose to pets and communities.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials responded to the scene, collecting DNA and biological samples from the 3-to-4-year-old female mountain lion, which weighed 83.5 pounds. While mountain lions are typically found in western and southern Texas, wildlife officials noted they can travel long distances and occasionally appear in eastern parts of the state, such as Longview.

The department stated that the samples will contribute to research at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute in Kingsville.

The post also served to inform Longview residents about the presence of mountain lions in the area.

While some commenters appreciated the warning, others criticized the photo as inconsistent with the department’s slogan, “protect and serve.”