(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha Police Department officer with just over five years on the force was involved in an accidental discharge of a duty rifle while performing a routine equipment check at the start of his shift, according to Sgt. Miller.
The incident happened in the basement of the Kenosha Police Department, away from the public. Sgt. Miller said the rifle was pointed in a safe direction when it discharged. No one was injured and there was no significant property damage.
Sgt. Miller described the incident as an accidental discharge that occurred during a standard check-in process at the beginning of a shift. He said the matter is being reviewed internally as an administrative issue and that no criminality is suspected.
Sgt. Miller said accidental discharges can occasionally happen in law enforcement agencies and that larger departments around the country may see an incident like this once or twice a year. National reporting and research have documented more than 1,400 unintentional police firearm discharges across hundreds of law enforcement agencies in recent years, with experts noting that such incidents, while uncommon, are not unheard of in the profession. (ScienceDirect)
He emphasized that the discharge did not happen in a public area and that there was never any danger to the community.
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10 Responses
Yeah, but leave it to a citizen who does the same thing in their own basement… And they’ll get the negligence charge. Fuck the police.
Never heard of an accidental discharge in the home leading to a criminal charge. Usually when it happens at home the bullet kills someone. You sound like you are in trouble with the law a lot? Relax and do the right thing…
Really ??
What direction can a gun be pointed in, in a concrete locker room ?
If it was in a basement all side walls are concrete. Any other wall of locker may be able to be penetrated by a gun shot. Or at least I would hope a gun can go through a drywall wall or a metal locker.
And even at that if it hit concrete wouldn’t it ricochet in another direction ?
Maybe that daily check should happen at some sort of capture device.
No I’ve never been in the police locker room but it is what it is.
down
Down is even worse. Into a concrete floor.
I can just imagine the concrete debris flying up in all directions. And still the bullet ricochet.
If he took a scratch I’m sure he’d never admit to being injured. Stupid is as stupid does
“Maybe that daily check should happen at some sort of capture device.”that i
Actually that is correct. Used to be sand filled barrels at entrances to certain buildings on military bases—simple and inexpensive solution to clearing weapons.
Anyway—lots of firearm handling so it’s going to happen. Time for a mandatory safety briefing and the officer involved will be the butt of jokes until someone else screws up.
We are paying these people to carry firearms they don’t even know how they work and what they can do?
maybe we should arm them with pool noodles to protect you
Glad no one was injured and also glad that the rifles are all suppressed so no one injured their ears. Could you imagine how crazy it would be if the officers didnt have suppressors.
We can laugh about it now everyone’s ok. Sounds like a couple days off and retraining, unless their rifle check policy is flawed.