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From the Laramie Boomerang (http://www.laramieboomerang.com/news/more.asp?StoryID=104475):
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Chief leaves loaded gun in restaurant
BY ANGELA BROOKS
Boomerang Staff Writer
Laramie Police Chief Bob Deutsch said yesterday he violated department policy by leaving his police-issued handgun in the restroom of a downtown restaurant last month.
Deutsch said he mistakenly left the loaded gun — a .40-caliber Glock pistol — in the restroom of Jeffrey’s Bistro Nov. 29. He didn’t realize the weapon was missing until a police officer returned it to him later that day.
“When I walked out of the restroom, I forgot it,” Deutsch said Wednesday. “There are no excuses. Personally, I think that’s a serious violation of policy.”
Deutsch said he was eating lunch at the restaurant when he decided to use the restroom. He placed the gun on a countertop in the bathroom, leaving it inside its holster.
A customer later found the gun and contacted a restaurant employee, who in turn called police. Officers traced the weapon back to Deutsch and returned it to him about 30 minutes after he left the restaurant.
“The (police officer) came to my office, closed the door and handed it to me,” Deutsch said. “I was very embarrassed and apologetic. I immediately e-mailed the entire department, saying I made a mistake.”
Deutsch estimated the gun was left unattended in the bathroom for no more than a couple minutes.
There was no safety lock on the Glock pistol, which is the department’s standard weapon.
After learning about the mistake, Deutsch said he issued himself a written reprimand, which is considered a low-level form of discipline.
He then contacted City Manager Mark Collins, who signed off on the reprimand.
Collins declined to comment on the matter Wednesday, citing employee confidentiality concerns.
Deutsch said he violated a portion of department policy that says “personnel shall not abuse or misuse Laramie Police Department equipment.” The reprimand would be recorded in his personnel file with the city, he said.
If the incident were to ever occur again, Deutsch said it would be grounds for suspension.
Deutsch said there would be no investigation into his actions.
“There was no need for (Collins) to investigate and to write up a reprimand for me,” Deutsch said. “I figured I could take care of that myself. It’s a pretty straightforward incident.”
Deutsch, who became police chief in February, said he would have recommended a similar punishment for any other police officer in his department. He said it was the first time in his 33-year career that he misplaced his gun.
“I hold myself to the same level of scrutiny and the same level of discipline as my staff,” Deutsch said. “I believe in complete transparency. If I make a mistake, I’m going to let everybody know.”
Laramie resident Tim Hale, who confronted the Laramie City Council about the incident Tuesday, said it was a public safety issue that could have become a legal nightmare for the city.
“We all know what could happen if, God forbid, a kid walked into the bathroom and thought it was a play toy,” Hale said.
Council members didn’t discuss the matter during the meeting and referred all questions to Collins.
The violation appears to be an isolated incident.
About 15 years ago, Deutsch said a Laramie police officer left his department-issued gun in visible sight inside his car. Someone broke into the vehicle and stole the gun, and the officer was reprimanded.
Deutsch said he was unaware of any case since then where an officer was reprimanded for misusing a weapon.
“Sometimes you get distracted,” Deutsch said. “There’s so much going on and you make mistakes. Yet you take responsibility for your mistakes. That’s what I expect of my staff and that’s what they expect of me.”
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Chief leaves loaded gun in restaurant
BY ANGELA BROOKS
Boomerang Staff Writer
Laramie Police Chief Bob Deutsch said yesterday he violated department policy by leaving his police-issued handgun in the restroom of a downtown restaurant last month.
Deutsch said he mistakenly left the loaded gun — a .40-caliber Glock pistol — in the restroom of Jeffrey’s Bistro Nov. 29. He didn’t realize the weapon was missing until a police officer returned it to him later that day.
“When I walked out of the restroom, I forgot it,” Deutsch said Wednesday. “There are no excuses. Personally, I think that’s a serious violation of policy.”
Deutsch said he was eating lunch at the restaurant when he decided to use the restroom. He placed the gun on a countertop in the bathroom, leaving it inside its holster.
A customer later found the gun and contacted a restaurant employee, who in turn called police. Officers traced the weapon back to Deutsch and returned it to him about 30 minutes after he left the restaurant.
“The (police officer) came to my office, closed the door and handed it to me,” Deutsch said. “I was very embarrassed and apologetic. I immediately e-mailed the entire department, saying I made a mistake.”
Deutsch estimated the gun was left unattended in the bathroom for no more than a couple minutes.
There was no safety lock on the Glock pistol, which is the department’s standard weapon.
After learning about the mistake, Deutsch said he issued himself a written reprimand, which is considered a low-level form of discipline.
He then contacted City Manager Mark Collins, who signed off on the reprimand.
Collins declined to comment on the matter Wednesday, citing employee confidentiality concerns.
Deutsch said he violated a portion of department policy that says “personnel shall not abuse or misuse Laramie Police Department equipment.” The reprimand would be recorded in his personnel file with the city, he said.
If the incident were to ever occur again, Deutsch said it would be grounds for suspension.
Deutsch said there would be no investigation into his actions.
“There was no need for (Collins) to investigate and to write up a reprimand for me,” Deutsch said. “I figured I could take care of that myself. It’s a pretty straightforward incident.”
Deutsch, who became police chief in February, said he would have recommended a similar punishment for any other police officer in his department. He said it was the first time in his 33-year career that he misplaced his gun.
“I hold myself to the same level of scrutiny and the same level of discipline as my staff,” Deutsch said. “I believe in complete transparency. If I make a mistake, I’m going to let everybody know.”
Laramie resident Tim Hale, who confronted the Laramie City Council about the incident Tuesday, said it was a public safety issue that could have become a legal nightmare for the city.
“We all know what could happen if, God forbid, a kid walked into the bathroom and thought it was a play toy,” Hale said.
Council members didn’t discuss the matter during the meeting and referred all questions to Collins.
The violation appears to be an isolated incident.
About 15 years ago, Deutsch said a Laramie police officer left his department-issued gun in visible sight inside his car. Someone broke into the vehicle and stole the gun, and the officer was reprimanded.
Deutsch said he was unaware of any case since then where an officer was reprimanded for misusing a weapon.
“Sometimes you get distracted,” Deutsch said. “There’s so much going on and you make mistakes. Yet you take responsibility for your mistakes. That’s what I expect of my staff and that’s what they expect of me.”
