It's not always a Glock?

[Dave P]

Officer shoots self

Detective expected to be OK, but fails gun test

By Enrique Heredero
FLORIDA TODAY



PALM BAY--An Indiatlantic police officer accidentally shot himself in the leg while trying to qualify to carry his off-duty weapon Friday afternoon.

Detective Mike Connor was putting the gun in its holster when the gun went off, said Stan Hanson, spokesman for the Palm Bay Police Department.

"Sometimes, it happens," Hanson said.

Connor, a six-year veteran of the department, was at the Palm Bay Training Facility, where officers from across the county practice. He was trying to qualify so he could carry his off-duty .45-caliber Colt gun. Under state law, police officers must test to be granted the privilege.

But somehow, when replacing his weapon it went off.

"We speculate that he may have still had his finger on the trigger," said Sgt. Scott Elliott of the Indialantic Police Department.

The bullet went in through the outer thigh and lodged itself just below Connor's kneecap.

Paramedics went to the gun range, at 620 Hurley Road S.W., and took Connor to Holmes Regional Medical Center. He underwent surgery and is expected to be released Saturday.

"Apparently the surgery was successful and didn't damage anything seriously. The prognosis is very good, and we're very happy about that," Elliott said.

Palm Bay police will investigate why the gun went off, Hanson said, but no charges would be brought against Connor.

Elliott said Indialantic police also will investigate the incident. Although Connor wasn't able to finish the qualification, he will be able to try it again once he heals, Elliott said.


*************
Ouch! That's gotta hurt!

Well, reading it again, the reporter could have the gun type totally wrong.

 

[txgolfer45]

Not a 1911??? Couldn't have an ND with the 1911, could we? People tell me it is the perfect handgun. :banghead:

Glocks rule!!

 

[Obiwan]

"We speculate that he may have still had his finger on the trigger"

Ya Think?????

 

[SapperLeader]

"We speculate that he may have still had his finger on the trigger," said Sgt. Scott Elliott of the Indialantic Police Department."

Hmm, you think? Glad to know that the nasty gun had to be helped by a pesky finger on that trigger.

 

[Kamicosmos]

Apparently the surgery was successful and didn't damage anything seriously.

Uh....is surgery normally expected to damage stuff? Thought it was to fix stuff....heh.

We speculate that he may have still had his finger on the trigger

Dunno...it could be one of those autmatic target tracking bayonette launching mine deploying black 3v1L ASSault pistols we've been hearing about...

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I think that the 1911 needs to be quarrantined until the investigation is complete. It is a danger to society

Whay was the finger on the trigger?
Anyone ever heard of a SAFETY?

Apparently the thumb was on vacation.

 

[El Tejon]

"I don't care what them thar damn fool Yankee on THR sez, I don't need the Four Rules, I got common *BANG!* sense, arrrgh, Billy Bob, meye layg."

Finger straight, safety on, recover.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Sometimes, it happens...

Yep. Things just mysteriously happen sometimes. Happens all the time. No known reason. Must be the gods or something.

 

[critter]

COP SHOOTS SELF WITH OWN GUN-------AND YET HE WILL BE ALLOWED TO TRY TO PASS QUALIFICATION ANYWAY and will be allowed to carry it!

BOY WILL we feel safe THEN!

 

[Gocart]

If the off-duty holster had a "stick-up" retention snap, and he did not engage the safety, the snap/flap could have gotten inside the trigger guard as he reholstered and caused the ND. Especially believable with the light triggers on 1911's. It's happened before.

 

[Cal4D4]

"The bullet went in through the outer thigh and lodged itself just below Connor's kneecap."

Poor performance. A 10mm woulda blown that leg clean off.

 

[Zach S]

Damn Cal, that was just wrong...

Funny though

 

[Baba Louie]

Detective Mike Connor was putting the gun in its holster when the gun went off, said Stan Hanson, spokesman for the Palm Bay Police Department.

I hate it when guns "went off" like that. Not "Fired" not "Discharged", but "went off"... maybe it "went ON"?
Hmmmm... Colt... 45-caliber...
Hmmmm... safety... trigger...
I better go check mine again.
Does it take a Detective to figure this out?

Apparently.

 

[PrudentGT]

This would never have happened with a smart gun...

 

[Carlos]

Well, let's just say unfortunately stoooopid.

Dang, that had to hurt.

 

[Tracy Hightower]

It could not have been a .45, it would have taken his leg clean off and left a six foot crater in the ground. Everybody knows that the only thing more powerful is a Tactical Nuclear Weapon.

 

[TechBrute]

Too bad it wasn't a 9mm, it would have just scratched the surface of his skin.

Seriously, though, I find it interesting that Police officers in FL have to qualify with their off-duty weapons. That means that FL doesn't think that LEOs are magical or better than your average citizen. Good for FL.

 

[dukeofurl]

Thats right next door to my range.

Amazing. Just....amazing.

Anyone know what day this happened?

 

[cratz2]

Sounds like someone fancied himself to be a Billy Badass and wasn't content to carry his Glock off-duty when only a realy gun like his beloved 1911 would do... Of course, most folks that have had twenty seconds of training with 1911s wipe the safety up before re-holstering, hopefully with their finger off the trigger as well.

 

[Tactical]

"Sometimes, it happens," Hanson said.

They may have found the answer to "Do guns kill?"

Doh! I keep forgetting, Bullets kill, Bullets kill.

I'll never remember that. :banghead:

 

[Majic]

Don't you just hate it when your handgun goes off by itself?

 

[JimJD]

Elliott said Indialantic police also will investigate the incident. Although Connor wasn't able to finish the qualification, he will be able to try it again once he heals, Elliott said.

He's going to be able to serve on the force after a wound like that?
Wow...the wonders of modern medicine.