Deputy accidentally shot while changing in jail locker room

[ProShooter]

I just don't see how. Why was the weapon OUT OF THE HOLSTER in the first place?

I have an educated guess.....

The news said that it happened at 720am in the locker room while getting dressed for a Sgt's interview. My guess is that this deputy works the night shift (7pm to 7am) and was just getting off. Jail deputies secure their gun in their locker while inside the jail. They also wear utility uniforms (BDU's) in the jail, but would have to change in to a class A uniform for the interview. She was most likely retrieving her gun from her locker and had the ND while holstering.

 

[user]

§ 18.2-56.1. Reckless handling of firearms; reckless handling while hunting.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to handle recklessly any firearm so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
...

If you or I had done that, we'd have been charged with the crime.

 

[sidestreet]

Whoooa Hoss...,

I hate to say it, but you guys blaming the Glock for the ND are no different than the anti's saying that guns kill people.

It ain't the gun, its the operator.

Please don't include me as one blaming the gun! I believe the gun did exactly what it was designed to do. It was loaded, chambered, and went bang when the trigger was depressed to the rear. Not much more than you could ask of a gun. I don't recall ever "blaming" the glocks. There are other things besides a finger that can depress the trigger and the "trigger safety" if that's what it's called, at the same time. I've proved it in my class any number of times. Of course it's not something you're going to find in the NRA First Steps manual, but it probably should be. It's just my opinion, but glock safeties are hardly any safety at all, de-cockers are only slightly better, and properly working exterior safeties are better than the rest, but none of them are worth a dang if they are not used properly and appropriate care is taken when holstering, and THAT friends, is on the handler.

sidestreet

Jeremiah 29 vs. 11-13

we are not equal, we will never be equal, but we must be relentless.

 

[Mayhem]

I just don't see how. Why was the weapon OUT OF THE HOLSTER in the first place?

Most LE agencies use at least level two retention. Most of them recommend or even mandate level three retention.

I don't get it, Jim. Aren't these people supposed to be "professionals"? I mean, if the antis had their druthers the only way to get a gun would be to go along with a badge or BDUs.

Maybe she had it in her off duty holster and was transferring it to her duty holster.

 

[MSC 45ACP]

Maybe she had it in her off duty holster and was transferring it to her duty holster.

It doesn't matter WHERE it was or where it was going...

Bottom Line:
She pulled the trigger + round in the chamber =
Self-inflicted gunshot wound.

It doesn't come any more simplified than that!

 

[Sangre]

Maybe she had it in her off duty holster and was transferring it to her duty holster.

From what I understand a lot of Deputies don't carry/own/shoot guns when not on the job. From what I have heard in Chesterfield, deputies are required to always carry their gun when in uniform. So they will change out of their uniform and leave the gun in their locker when leaving work... I'm also thinking that while changing she was holstering the gun.

 

[CHILINVLN]

I have an educated guess.....

The news said that it happened at 720am in the locker room while getting dressed for a Sgt's interview. My guess is that this deputy works the night shift (7pm to 7am) and was just getting off. Jail deputies secure their gun in their locker while inside the jail. They also wear utility uniforms (BDU's) in the jail, but would have to change in to a class A uniform for the interview. She was most likely retrieving her gun from her locker and had the ND while holstering.

Regardless of the circumstances, her finger at some point was on the trigger. She should be charged with § 18.2-56.1.

 

[mk4]

Regardless of the circumstances, her finger at some point was on the trigger. She should be charged with § 18.2-56.1.

coulda been anything that got into the trigger guard, not limited to a finger. a shirt tail, defective area of a holster (saw a news story on that somewhere), whatever.

one of the reasons i carry a hammer gun (vs striker) is that i like the 'thumb on hammer while holstering' technique. if anything gets onto the trigger while i'm holstering, i'll feel it, my thumb pressure will stop the hammer from cocking/releasing and i can stop/check immediately.

 

[peter nap]

coulda been anything that got into the trigger guard, not limited to a finger. a shirt tail, defective area of a holster (saw a news story on that somewhere), whatever. one of the reasons i carry a hammer gun (vs striker) is that i like the 'thumb on hammer while holstering' technique. if anything gets onto the trigger while i'm holstering, i'll feel it, my thumb pressure will stop the hammer from cocking/releasing and i can stop/check immediately.

Yep, could have even been her shirttail. One thing that's starting to bother me is why are we hammering her so hard. Yeah, it was an ND of some sort. They do happen. Fortunately no one was hurt other than her. The Henrico Sheriff is fairly Gun friendly as opposed to the Police Department. I've never heard of her before or seen her at the General Assembly acting all anti and the Henrico Sheriff's Department doesn't support the anti community that I know of. A bad Department deserves for each and every Officer that works for it, to be the subject of ridicule and humiliation, but does the same go for one that occasionally works for us?

Shouldn't we be compassionate and just say..."Gee, I'm real sorry you shot yourself in the a$$"?:uhoh:

 

[mk4]

Shouldn't we be compassionate and just say..."Gee, I'm real sorry you shot yourself in the a$$"?:uhoh:

agree. she's already paying a heavy price without needing ridicule, too.

 

[BillB]

I disagree. Negligent discharges like this one make all gun owners look bad. And you can bet they will be publicized whenever possible just as this one was. If trained LEOs can't keep from shooting themselves, why would the public at large not be suspicious and fearful of citizens carrying guns in public? I have zero sympathy for people who have negligent discharges.

 

[Wolf_shadow]

I disagree. Negligent discharges like this one make all gun owners look bad. And you can bet they will be publicized whenever possible just as this one was. If trained LEOs can't keep from shooting themselves, why would the public at large not be suspicious and fearful of citizens carrying guns in public? I have zero sympathy for people who have negligent discharges.

No offense but I hope you never make a mistake with a firearm or otherwise. But unless you are perfect you will at sometime make a mistake. Be it driving your vehicle, handling your firearm, etc..

The driver that makes a wrong turn down a oneway street is neglagent driving but doesn't make all drivers look bad.

 

[BillB]

There is big difference between making a mistake and being negligent operating or using a deadly weapon. The operative word here is negligent, not accident, not mistake - negligent.

 

[Wolf_shadow]

There is big difference between making a mistake and being negligent operating or using a deadly weapon. The operative word here is negligent, not accident, not mistake - negligent.

A negligent discharge is the direct result of a human being making a mistake. Either in improperly placing the firearm in the holster, having the finger in the wrong place, or forgetting to check the chamber before attempting to clean. Also some ND have been shown to be due to a defective holster.
ND's have been caused by people depending on a defective safety, which is a mechanical device which can and will fail at the most inopportune moment.
Just as a vehicle crash is preventable incident had a mistake not been made by a driver, a negligent discharge is a preventable incident caused by the operator making a mistake.

 

[peter nap]

No offense but I hope you never make a mistake with a firearm or otherwise. But unless you are perfect you will at sometime make a mistake. Be it driving your vehicle, handling your firearm, etc..

The driver that makes a wrong turn down a oneway street is neglagent driving but doesn't make all drivers look bad.

I happen to agree with you Wolf Shadow, but we're all entitled to our opinions and I don't want to deprive Bill of his...

Besides,he may be the one person without sin, who Jesus gave a green light to bash the little lady with a rock.:uhoh:

 

[BillB]

A negligent discharge is the direct result of a human being making a mistake. Either in improperly placing the firearm in the holster, having the finger in the wrong place, or forgetting to check the chamber before attempting to clean. Also some ND have been shown to be due to a defective holster.
ND's have been caused by people depending on a defective safety, which is a mechanical device which can and will fail at the most inopportune moment.
Just as a vehicle crash is preventable incident had a mistake not been made by a driver, a negligent discharge is a preventable incident caused by the operator making a mistake.

Despite having been trained in the proper use and safe handling of the specific handgun she carried, and being required to qualify with her handgun on multiple occasions, and having 10 years of experience as a LEO; this deputy managed to shoot herself with her own handgun - why? There is nothing to suggest that the handgun or ammunition malfunctioned. She did not shoot herself because she did not know how to properly handle her pistol. She shot herself as a direct result of unsafe and improper gun handling - gun handling that was a violation of one or more of basic 4 rules of gun safety and almost assuredly in violation of procedures required of armed members of her sheriff's department. That's negligence!

 

[Grapeshot]

Despite having been trained in the proper use and safe handling of the specific handgun she carried, and being required to qualify with her handgun on multiple occasions, and having 10 years of experience as a LEO; this deputy managed to shoot herself with her own handgun - why? There is nothing to suggest that the handgun or ammunition malfunctioned. She did not shoot herself because she did not know how to properly handle her pistol. She shot herself as a direct result of unsafe and improper gun handling - gun handling that was a violation of one or more of basic 4 rules of gun safety and almost assuredly in violation of procedures required of armed members of her sheriff's department. That's negligence!

No one here has disagreed but that it was a negligent discharge. There is however a definite lack of specific detail at this point and we often council each other not to rush to judgement based on incomplete information.

Somewhere along the way a lapse/error likely occurred, but don't see the need to crucify the deputy right out of the gate. Soon enough more information will be forthcoming. Suggest that we be more patient and tolerant.

 

[BillB]

Should the circumstances of this deputy shooting herself prove to be other than I've stated, I'll eat my virtual hat. And, why are we likely to hear more about the specifics of this event? I certainly would not expect any more information from the press.

 

[Mayhem]

It doesn't matter WHERE it was or where it was going...

Bottom Line:
She pulled the trigger + round in the chamber =
Self-inflicted gunshot wound.

It doesn't come any more simplified than that!

I was answering why she would have had the gun out of the holster in the locker room. ha-ha!!

 

[Mayhem]

Despite having been trained in the proper use and safe handling of the specific handgun she carried, and being required to qualify with her handgun on multiple occasions, and having 10 years of experience as a LEO; this deputy managed to shoot herself with her own handgun - why? There is nothing to suggest that the handgun or ammunition malfunctioned. She did not shoot herself because she did not know how to properly handle her pistol. She shot herself as a direct result of unsafe and improper gun handling - gun handling that was a violation of one or more of basic 4 rules of gun safety and almost assuredly in violation of procedures required of armed members of her sheriff's department. That's negligence!

**** happens. We are all human and prone to make mistakes.. no matter how well trained. I have been at the shooting range where citizens on the line shot the table while drawing. I am betting she does not do "it" again. ha!!!!