Another LEO ND!!!

[absolut_beethoven]

Insufficient training?

Standards too low for acceptable candidates?

What exactly is going on over here?

Especially when one considers that very few of these, if any, are due to a weapon malfunction.

Deputy fires gun in courthouse restroom

Thu Feb 21, 8:26 PM ET

A Cass County Sheriff's deputy who accidentally fired his handgun in a courthouse restroom has been suspended for eight days without pay. Authorities said Dean Wawers, 57, also will receive a written reprimand in personnel file.

No one was hurt when the gun belonging Wawers discharged during lunch hour on Jan. 10.

Fargo police said an investigation determined that his weapon was discharged accidentally.

Authorities said he had hung the gun by its trigger guard, and the gun caught on the hook and discharged into the ceiling when he went to retrieve it.

___

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com

Link below

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_accidental_discharge;_ylt=Av26CMQqiKnY3Qe7gNduHYoDW7oF

 

[bogie]

It's a good thing that we always remind folks about these idiotic events, so that the whole Brady world thinks that guns just go off all over the place spontaneously.

 

[Rapidfire_85]

Is it common practice to un-holster your weapon when sitting in a public restroom? I guess I could see the reason to not want it 'dangling' into the adjacent stall though. The only other idea I would have is not drop them to the floor and keep them at half mast (think waistline just above the kneecap) while sitting.

 

[WayneConrad]

I'm disappointed in the tone of the original post. That some law enforcement officers have been known to have ND's is not new news. But it just makes me wince to see such a shrill headline on here.

If I were law enforcement on this board, I think I'd just shake my head, and go find somewhere else to spend my time. That's a better headline for CNN than it is for THR.

And one apostrophe will do: That many apostrophes sounds like Billy Mays selling me something...

 

[Geronimo45]

Is it common practice to un-holster your weapon when sitting on the can?

Otherwise your pants may hit the floor, and bathroom floors are notoriously filthy. Still, I'd think that the spare mags, cuffs, and other stuff would do the same for you.

Probably just an officer that's grown somewhat careless over the years.

 

[Apachedriver]

I'm not LE but I used to remove my firearm from my holster to prevernt anyone in the next stall from reaching under the divider and grabbing it.

That being said, I quit doing that years ago and instead remove the whole pistol belt off and hang it off either the hooks on the back of the door, the door handle if it's big enough or the toilet paper holder. Either way, I still keep my hand on the belt.
Although I'm not sure but, don't LE pistol belts hook onto their pants belt? I guess that would eliminate what I do as an option for them.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I've said it before and I'll say it again... Ignoring that many cops don't know what model of gun they're carrying, use proper firearm terminology, and perhaps can't shoot worth a damn, the biggest problem I see is that many police officers don't understand how their firearm actually operates internally.

I would be willing to bet that this was a Glock, in which case, the real estate within the trigger gaurd should be given respect equal to that of a hot stovetop, as we all know.

Absolutely unacceptable.

 

[Aaryq]

It's funny how a lot of you here on THR hear about cops screwing up and jumping on them. Guess what. THEY'RE PEOPLE TOO! Why do we only hear about LEO's having an ND? I take that back, we occasionally hear members of THR who have had an ND. When THR Members post about their experiences, we don't mock them with sadistic glee. We take the high road with them, ensure they understand why and/or how they made their mistake and chalk it up as a learning experience. Holy stink. Why don't we do the same to them? I'm sure the officer in question, especially a police officer in Fargo, ND at the age of 57 is probably an experienced Law Enforcement Officer and a mentor to many new-joins to the force. Now, after his suspension, he has to return to the men and women he's trained and know that he is now a notch lower on their belts. He has disgraced himself. Leave him be. Take the high road. Use this man's misfortune as a learning tool, not a target for jabs about the Law Enforcement community.

 

[TAB]

only one Q... would John Q public be charged with a crime if this happend?


if yes, the LEO needs to be charged with that crime.

If no, there is something wrong with the laws... it at the very least needs to be a misdemeanor.

I also beleave for things like this suspention and training in not the solution...termination and a very public one is the solution.( assuming its a ND not a AD do to a malfunction.) That way his peers know what will happen to them, if they have a ND.

 

[Harvster]

How many police officers are there in the country? How many handle guns every day? It's not like these stories happen daily. So I don't think there is any reason to question their training and what not. How many ND/AD from non LEO people never even get reported?

 

[Battlespace]

Considering the shear numbers of LEO who daily handle weapons I do not consider this a news worthy event.

How many members of the military are there and how many "accidental discharges" are there with them? In my 25 years of wearing the uniform I was around more than I care to recall. Everything from improper clearing procedures to just plain carelessness/being stupid.

 

[alsaqr]

Folks from all walks of life have NDs.

 

[Moonclip]

It's probably because LE can/is/should be held to a higher standard, especially of firearms proficiency, a very important if seldon used part of their jobs.

I found the recent ND by a FBI agent in Long Beach CA kind of interesting. Like mentioned though with probably close to a million LEO's in the USA, it's goint to happen here and there. Some are quite tragic like one that happened in my area where like a 4 year old shot his LE dad with a gun he found loose in the car.

 

[Vonderek]

I think it's an important story because one of the gun banners' biggest arguments to take firearms away from citizens is that only law enforcement and military are trained highly enough to be trusted with the possession and use of firearms...the rest of us are too stupid and dangerous to be allowed near them. A story like this serves to remind that law enforcement is not always as highly trained as everyone thinks. It makes one pause and think that perhaps the slow crawl to a police state where only the police have guns may not be such a good thing after all.

 

[Creature]

Laziness and complacency will bite us harder than stupidity will. And that sheriff was all three.

Vonderek is right about the antis using this as "yet more proof"...a friend who is an anti came to me waving this in my face.

 

[TexasRifleman]

police said an investigation determined that his weapon was discharged accidentally........

Authorities said he had hung the gun by its trigger guard, and the gun caught on the hook and discharged

When the hell did STUPIDITY become an accident, other than when this guys parents met.....

 

[-C4-]

Not really sure what to say to that. I can't imagine EVER hanging a loaded gun by the trigger guard. Baffles the mind.

 

[Zach S]

When THR Members post about their experiences, we don't mock them with sadistic glee.

THR members admit to having a brainfart and having an ND as a result, unlike professionals who, accodring to the antis, have superior training, and call it an accident, even if the officer in question shoots himself in the foot in a classrom full of children.

 

[lax]

It's like expecting a salesman to actually know about what they are selling. Some just don't know and don't care.

 

[bogie]

No. Most people don't understand that EVERYONE WILL HAVE AN "OH ****!" MOMENT.

When you understand that, you work to make sure that it won't be all that expensive.

 

[highorder]

I would be willing to bet that this was a Glock, in which case, the real estate within the trigger gaurd should be given respect equal to that of a hot stovetop, as we all know.

I never thought of it like that. I like it.


and LEO ND's are important as some have said, these people must be held to a higher standard, because they are supposed to be "trained experts", according the those that want to take your guns and only allow LEO's to have them.

 

[SSN Vet]

he had hung the gun by its trigger guard,

I think that's close to the most stupid thing I've ever heard!

 

[Robert]

As a former LEO with the State Patrol I can only speak to my training and experience. The organization I worked for put us through rigorous training in not only safe and effective shooting, but in the anatomy of our weapons. We spent many hours going over the operation and inner workings of our weapons before we even stepped foot on the range. Once we hit the range we were trained by some of the finest, safest shooters I have ever been around. There was no excuse for a lapse in safety. I take acceptation to some folks feeling that all LEO are bad shot or ignorant of their firearms. I take acceptation to the belief that all LEO's start their day by coming up with new ways to violate our civil rights. Now that being said I do know that not all LE forces are as well funded or staffed as ours was. Many small town departments can only afford to pay so much, and that lack of pay will only attract certain people. Training costs money, good officers cost money. And as we all know... that don't grow on trees.
That’s just my $.02. Thanks for letting me rant.

 

[highorder]

As a former LEO with the State Patrol I can only speak to my training and experience. The organization I worked for put us through rigorous training in not only safe and effective shooting, but in the anatomy of our weapons. We spent many hours going over the operation and inner workings of our weapons before we even stepped foot on the range. Once we hit the range we were trained by some of the finest, safest shooters I have ever been around. There was no excuse for a lapse in safety.

Thank you for your perspective Gus. there is clearly more than one kind of LEO.

 

[cpttango30]

Honestly how many of us would really hang a pistol by the trigger guard on a stall door? If you are not smart enough to say to yourself WAIT is it really a good idea to hang a pistol by the trigger guard then maybe he should not be wearing a badge. There are 4 rules it is not brain surgery people. Dang if all i had to do was be stupid to get a 8 day vaccation, that is the job I want? Wow if i did something this stupid and caused the network to go down you better believe I am packing my stuff and looking for a new job. This guy gets a vaccation and a letter ohhhhhhh that is harsh punishment.

I have been shooting or 26+ years and have never had a ND. How is it that people think everyone will have one? If you are mindful of your firearms and always practice safe handling this will never happen. I guess I am just a bit paranoid that something may happen.