Personally I think an emu crossing sign would have done it

But no. You know how itchy local cops get if they've been too long without shooting someone or, at the very least, something. Police in Granite City, Illinois (I wonder if it's twinned with Aberdeen?) gunned down an unarmed, defenseless emu yesterday. Granite City Police Chief Richard Miller said officers had to shoot the flightless bird as "hitting an emu with a car could have caused a nasty crash". (Note to self: never be a pedestrian in Granite City, Illinois)

Thank god Rod Hull didn't live to see it!

Anyone interested in visiting Granite City make sure to stop by and visit the "World's Largest Catsup Bottle" (tomato sauce for you Brits) in nearby Collinsville!