Another reason not to reveal to LEO

[MedWheeler]

I work in this county. I have heard three accounts of what happened (was not on duty myself at the time.) One is the version "reported" here. On was on a television newscast, and it was similar in account, though it did not say whose hand the firearm was in when it discharged. The third account was the first one I heard, and it was from another medic on duty at the time. That account stated that the deputy had responded to an aggravated battery call, specifically, of a woman brandishing a handgun during a neighbor dispute. The area is a complex of condominium buildings largely populated by retirees. When he arrived, no handgun was visible. (In Florida, aggravated battery is a felony, worthy of further police investigation. To proceed with such investigation, determination of the presence of an actual weapon would certainly be prudent, right?) As reported to me, the suspect disclosed the weapon's location, but then attempted to retrieve it herself. The deputy stopped her, and a short tussle followed, during which the weapon discharged.
Based on two things, at least one of which is apparently novel here at THR, I will not pass judgement on what actually happened. The first is that I was not there. The second is that I heard more than one account of the event.

 

[Old Dog]

Darn, MedWheeler, if that account's at all close to what actually happened, it renders totally moot the previous five pages of posts damning the deputy for his stupidity and trampling of someone's rights ... can we please not let actual facts get in the way of the cop-bashing?

 

[C96]

MedWheeler thoughts like that can really spoil a good cop bashing party. You know how it is here on THR right? Bashing cops takes no real effort at all, and certainly all news reports are complete and accurate.

 

[Tacbandit]

Hey...Can't we just be glad nobody died...?
We're always a bunch of experts, before we even know what really happened...Hmmmmm....now it looks a little different, eh???

 

[Tacbandit]

"He shouldn't have been messing with it to begin with..."

And why not?
Let's get all of the facts before we rush to judgement...He was doing his J.O.B....obviously.....

 

[dhoomonyou]

deputy FOOTE shot himself in the LEG.

He broke a few rules

MUZZLE control, and finger on trigger. DUH.

 

[deaconkharma]

The deputy stopped her, and a short tussle followed, during which the weapon discharged.

"no charges were being filed....."
doubting the tussle story...

 

[Officers'Wife]

Hi Glowinponiac,

Situations like this are the reason I believe that EVERY police vehicle should have cameras facing out the windshield and rear window of the vehicle and that each camera should have an externally mounted microphone to capture dialog and other sounds outside the car and have a microphone inside as well.

It wouldn't matter, even if the 'officer' involved was proven negligent and his possession of a weapon an insult to the peace and dignity of society, he would be lauded and the concerned would be jeered as 'cop bashers.'

Selena

 

[Bones11b]

I find it almost impossible to believe the account where a "tussle" over a firearm involving a police officer and a civillian ending in the officer wounded, would not require charges being filed. If indeed there was suspicion of a firearm being brandished, and information by a suspect on the whereabouts of said firearm were volunteered, then the search for and retrieval of said firearm would be warranted. Handling of said firearm in an elderly community in such a way as to discharge it would most likely bring charges to a civillian. This is not "cop bashing" this is reality. In the "real world' if a civillian handled a firearm in such a way as to discharge it in public they would most likely be charged with a crime.

 

[MedWheeler]

The article says "no charges have been filed." It also states the incident is still under investigation.
It does not say no charges will be filed. Have to wait and see... since I'm local, I'll try to keep an eye/ear out.. though any charges against the female would likely not get the coverage an officer shot (even accidently) would, so I won't hold my breath..

 

[deaconkharma]

another reason not to inform

figured this was pertinent as a reason too. not the same situation as in this thread but still reason to not inform and since the title is reason not to inform...
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=392206

 

[LegalAlien]

Being from Stuart in Martin County, FL, I will have to make sure that it is not Deputy Foote that stops me and inquires about my PX4, snug inside the Maxpedition Versipak sitting on the passenger seat next to me.

Bless our local Sherrifs :banghead::banghead:

 

[Old School]

So many of these articles that we comment on are very sparse on facts. However, I have to agree with what many have said about the alleged tussle. I believe that if the officer was struggling for control of the weapon with a suspect and the was shot, the story would definitely not read like it does. The headline would surely read: "officer shot by woman" or a variation thereof.