I wouldn't want to be on the same force as this cop. Unfortunately, these are my county's finest... How does a disassembled rifle just "go off"? I'm really glad it wasn't powerful enough to pierce the other cop's vest!
2 deputies in accidental shooting in Pahokee ID'd
By Jerome Burdi | Sun-Sentinel.com
9:03 AM EDT, August 17, 2007
PAHOKEE - The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office released the names Friday of two deputies involved in an accidental shooting during a traffic stop.
Deputy Jon Snow, 36, a member of the Sheriff's Office since July 2005, was handling a rifle during a traffic stop about 2:45 a.m. Thursday when he accidentally shot Deputy Jonathan Wallace in the chest, authorities said.
Wallace, 23, was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and was not injured, sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller said. Wallace has been on the force since since May 2006.
The deputies had pulled over William Venable, 44, of Pahokee, for driving past a stop sign in the 200 block of East Main Street, Miller said.
They saw a rifle in the back seat of Venable's car and Snow attempted to take it apart, Miller said. That's when the gun went off, he said.
Venable was charged with several traffic citations, Miller said.
The case is under investigation. Both deputies remain on active duty.