(CO) 3 Arapahoe County Deputies Hurt At Firing Range

[Drizzt]

3 Arapahoe County Deputies Hurt At Firing Range
Gun Accidentally Discharges During Firearms Training

POSTED: 1:45 p.m. MST January 15, 2003
UPDATED: 4:06 p.m. MST January 15, 2003

Three Arapahoe County sheriff's deputies were injured at the firing range Wednesday when a gun accidentally discharged during a training exercise, Sheriff Grayson Robinson said.

The deputies were not hit by any bullets but were bruised by shrapnel and blown concrete, Robinson said.

The deputies were identified as David Kleinheksl, Charleen Briggs and Douglas Sauerbreit.


The trio were part of a group of 16 deputies who were undergoing mandatory training at Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Training Facility, at 9008 North Highway 85.

Before they can use the firing range, and before they can get their bullets, deputies have to have their weapons examined.

Apparently, when one of the deputies removed his Glock Model 17, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol from his holster to be examined at the table, he nearly dropped it.

He quickly grabbed the weapon and it unintentionally discharged -- shooting a hole through the table and hitting the concrete, Robinson said.

Briggs and Sauerbreit were treated at Littleton Hospital for bruises from the concrete or shrapnel, and Kleinheksel had a piece of metal removed from his right hand, according a sheriff's spokeman.

The Sheriff's Department is conducting an internal investigation and looking into why the gun was already loaded.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/1911226/detail.html

 

[DeltaElite]

It's hard to change your thinking, but ya gotta let the Glock drop, otherwise this is a possible result.
Glad there were no serious injuries.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Well, that's one approach to firearms safety.

 

[M1911]

It's hard to change your thinking, but ya gotta let the Glock drop, otherwise this is a possible result.

Yup. It sure sounds as though his finger inadvertently made it into the trigger guard while grabbing the pistol. Hope the Deputies recover quickly and fully.

 

[Blackhawk]

Uh, oh...!

Does this mean that in addition to drop tests, guns will have to pass "catch" tests?

A natural reaction to dropping anything is to try to catch it. It's HARD for people to just let something go when they've dropped it.

Glocks and cocked SA revolvers are some of the few guns that couldn't pass.

 

[Navy joe]

Just about any modern gun let it fall! I'd say the same even for pre-80 series 1911's. From holster height there won't be enough momentum to fire it. Knives too, let em fall, get the heck outta the way. I'm sure this will somehow be the Glock's fault though.

 

[TexasVet]

I'm sure this will somehow be the Glock's fault though.

Well, duh! when you put the safety on the TRIGGER this type of ND will (and does, from all the reports that keep showing up in the boards) happen regularly with cops. When you violate the rule about your finger and the trigger, there is no backup as on a Colt or any other firearm with a separate action required to remove the safety.
I'm really surprised that the assault lawyers haven't jumped on this as a real product liability problem. Yeah, I know that every instance has involved stupidity on the cop's part by having their finger where they shouldn't, but that never stopped a lawyer before.

 

[justice4all]

Forget about the gun; how is it that someone, supposedly trained, and required to go about armed in order "to protect and serve" could be so freaked out by their weapon that they cannot even hold on to it?

 

[ArmsAkimber]

It's interesting that the article is very specific about the nature of the injuries each deputy received, but it does not identify the budding Glock juggler.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

The Sheriff's Department is conducting an internal investigation and looking into why the gun was already loaded.

I'd venture to guess it was loaded because that's the way he carries the gun while on duty.

and it unintentionally discharged

At least it didn't go off on it's own!!

 

[Chris Rhines]

I have a good-size scar on the palm of my right hand, from trying to catch a knife that I dropped. I caught it alright...

Not the worst. I've heard of the same thing happening with lit soldering irons (ouch!) and syringes full of various nasty drugs (yikes!)

Let it fall.

- Chris

 

[Azrael256]

Soldering iron, right here Hurt like hell, but it taught me to always have tough footwear on. I was trying to keep it from hitting my sandaled foot. With good boots on, I'll just let it fall next time.

and it unintentionally discharged

Still don't like it. My guns have never, and will never unintentionally discharge. How about "and the officer accidentally discharged his weapon"