(OR) Deputy Shot When Jacket Toggle Tangles With Trigger

[Drizzt]

Deputy Shot When Jacket Toggle Tangles With Trigger

No Mishandling, Negligence Involved

SALEM, Ore. -- Investigators say they now know how a Marion County deputy was accidentally shot in the leg Wednesday night by his own gun.

Steven Cooper was on duty, getting out of his unmarked squad car when his Glock handgun discharged inside his holster.

The bullet went through his lower right leg, causing "substantial" injuries to major blood vessels and arteries, as well as to his tibia. The bullet was lodged in the bone.

An investigation determined that the firing was not the result of mishandling of the handgun or other form of negligence by Cooper.

The deputy was wearing a jacket with drawstrings and toggles to adjust the waistband. It is believed that one of the plastic toggles worked its way into the gun holster and became entangled in the trigger guard.

When Cooper extended his arm to push open the car door, his coat became taut and the waistband pulled up. The drawstring tightened enough to pull the trigger.

Cooper, a 10-year veteran of the sheriff's office, is assigned to a bicycle patrol officer and is a member of the Marion County Interagency SWAT Team.

http://www.koin.com/news.asp?ID=3737

I didn't post the original story when I saw it, as there had been enough stories about officers accidentally firing off a round, and I didn't see the need to add to it, but I found this story with the cause to be interesting.

 

[mete]

I'd like to see the jacket and holster.

 

[Alex45ACP]

That sucks. Unfortunately, it's possible the cop was doing something stupid, shot himself by accident, and he or the department is blaming it on the gun/holster instead.

 

[LaEscopeta]

Does this mean the jacket toggle took the safety off, and then pulled the trigger? Or does Marion County allow deputys to carry handguns with a round in the chamber and the safety off?
I'm just asking.

 

[swampsniper]

Another Glock incident.

Other articles about this state that a Glock was involved, again!

 

[Frandy]

Does this mean the jacket toggle took the safety off, and then pulled the trigger? Or does Marion County allow deputys to carry handguns with a round in the chamber and the safety off?

First, let's hope the guy is okay...


This is a Glock. There is no safety. And that's the point. Or, at least one of them...

Now, where's my 1911? Cocked and locked. Cocked and LOCKED!

Frandy

 

[scubie02]

yep, I was going to say too bad he didn't have something safer like a 1911...

 

[stevelyn]

Jacket toggle? Gun fired while in holster? Evil Glocks? Something smells.........

 

[Beren]

Every holster I've ever used with my Glocks has never had any kind of opening that would let more than a dog hair slip inside. What the heck kind of holster was he using? One of those soft "pocket" types?

 

[Double Naught Spy]

No mishandling and no negligence? I am going to guess here, I think he probably holstered the gun at some point AFTER putting on the jacket, holstering the toggle with the gun (as can happen with loose clothing such as shirts).

Otherwise, I am having trouble envisioning what type of holster fits a gun loose enough to allow for a jacket toggle to work its way down to inside the trigger guard.

There is something not kosher about that BBQ'd pig.

 

[AK-74me]

Does this mean the jacket toggle took the safety off, and then pulled the trigger? Or does Marion County allow deputys to carry handguns with a round in the chamber and the safety off?

I carry a SIG but it would be in the same condition. Of course it is carried with one in the chamber. It is a DA gun with no external safety. Blame it on bad holster design if anything. That is of course if it happen the way the article states.

 

[rayra]

I'd like to see the jacket and holster.

I don't need it. It's obviously bull????. No way it happens, unless the officer is fiddling with his firearm.

 

[larry starling]

I second the guy shot himself....glocks are suppose to be super safe...so whats up?

 

[Biker]

None of my holsters I use for Glocks (Hellweg Paddle Speed, Spark's Summer Special) would allow even a button near the trigger after the gun is safely holstered.
Biker

 

[K-Romulus]

thigh holster?

I thought I read somewhere that he was using a "tactical" leg holster.

It would make a huge difference in safety if he was using a Safariland 6004 or Eagle MK VI vs. one he got off eBay for $14.95 . . .

 

[MechAg94]

The sarcasm is deafening.

Hope he recovers okay.

 

[Fred Fuller]

"It is believed that one of the plastic toggles worked its way into the gun holster and became entangled in the trigger guard."

Yup. No doubt they still believe in Santa at the Marion County SO as well. Either the holster was such an atrocious fit that wardrobe accidents were possible (how likely is that?), the deputy holstered part of his coat as well as his pistol (well...), or this is a convenient fabrication to cover something like holstering the pistol with finger in trigger guard (more likely IMHO).

But it WAS a Glock, no doubt, it had to be because we all know those things just go off by themselves at any time...

lpl/nc (whose Glocks all seem strangely well behaved, they never go off unless their triggers are pulled)

 

[RON in PA]

The story is total BS. How is a jacket toggle going to get into the trigger guard of a holstered Glock, especially if the holster is a proper one that covers the trigger guard.

 

[nomadboi]

Could the toggle have gotten trapped in the guard/holster while he was holstering it earlier? Then as he sat down it could have pulled on the string... dunno, just trying to think how it could happen as described (let's not start out assuming that everyone is lying about NDs), and I think you're right that nothing could get in to a holstered gun's guard.

 

[Alex45ACP]

It was a "wardrobe malfunction"

 

[LaEscopeta]

Quote:
Does this mean the jacket toggle took the safety off, and then pulled the trigger? Or does Marion County allow deputies to carry handguns with a round in the chamber and the safety off?

This is a Glock. There is no safety. And that's the point. Or, at least one of them...

I’m here to learn, and here’s a case where I have something to learn.
I have previously understood all Glock handguns are semi-autos (they don’t make revolvers?) I thought with semi-auto pistols, the first trigger pull is double action; it cocks the hammer then releases it, firing the gun. The slide then ejects the spent shell, loads a new one, and cocks the hammer again, so the second and following shots are single action trigger pulls. And you all are telling me you can’t safe the gun after the first shot? Does it have a de-cocker mechanism to put it back on double action?
The only firearms I’ve ever handled that do not have safeties to prevent the trigger being pulled or the hammer dropping have been single shot rifles and shotguns; they are automatically on safe after you fire them, because they are unloaded. I am interested in hearing the advantage in not having a safety on a gun that puts a live shell in the chamber and closes the action after every shot.

 

[VARifleman]

Ok, What you're talking about there is a specific kind of semi-auto. That's used on a lot (like a lot of CZs, Berettas, etc) of pistols, but it's not the only way. Some semi-auto pistols (like a Keltec or a Kahr) are double action all the time. Others (like the good ole 1911) are single action all the time. The double action/single action, may or may not have a safety. A double action only never has one (that I know about at least). A single action only will always have one. A glock is none of the above. It is between single and double. The racking of the slide pulls the firing pin back half way, then the movement of the trigger pulls it back the rest of the way and fires the pistol. The only safety that a Glock has that is operated by the user is a little blade on the trigger that has to be pushed in first before it will fire.

 

[Sindawe]

Glocks do not have hammers. IIRC, the action of pulling the trigger on a Glock will pull back the firing pin and compress a spring behind it. Once the spring has been compress sufficiently, the pin is released to impact on the primer of the cartridge and fire the weapon.

The advantage of the design is that when loaded and there is a round in the chamber, the will fire every time the trigger is pulled w/o having to deal with external manual safeties. This can also be a disadvantage for those who do not practice safe handling/storage practice with the weapon.

 

[GunGoBoom]

What is described there certainly IS possible, and if accurate, they are correct in saying that there was no negligence involved. It's just an unforseen and unfortunate accident that could happen with any gun with a light trigger, and no external safety (manual or grip). Thus it's noteworthy than an XD or other gun with a grip safety WOULD HAVE prevented this.

 

[cxm]

Glock Safety????

Glocks has a safety of sorts... though it seems to me (and from reports seems to Mr.Murphy as well) to be pretty useless... it is a lever in the center of the trigger that when pressed allows the striker to be released and the gun to fire... rather like a trigger... or a second trigger... not sure what it is supposed to be for.

There are after market thumb safeties available for glocks... which seem to me to be a very useful appliance indeed.

Glocks may be ok for very well trained personnel... but not many people are THAT well trained.

I'll take almost anything but a glock.

FWIW

Chuck