Drizzt
Member
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.
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.