Lodi Police Officer Shot When Child Pulled Trigger On His Gun At Reading Event

[The Straight Story]

LODI (CBS13) — A Lodi Police SWAT officer had a Glock .35 with a flashlight in his thigh holster at a children’s reading event when a boy managed to pull the trigger and shoot the officer.

“It doesn’t have an external safety or anything like that,” said Lt. Sierra Brucia with the department. “The gun functioned how it was supposed to. When the trigger was pulled, the gun went off.”

The officer was showing off the department’s SWAT truck, vest and other gear at a children’s event called Reading Roundup on Aug. 24.

“A small child, witnesses tell us was 6 to 8 years old, was able to walk up to the officer and was able to pull the trigger.”

The bullet hit the officer’s leg. He was taken to the hospital for a minor injury and released.

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/09/02/lodi-police-officer-shot-when-child-pulled-trigger-on-his-gun-at-reading-event/

[treestar]

1. What a weird accident

the kid must have done it very quickly and the officer must have been totally wrapped up in his presentation.

[The Straight Story]

2. I am thinking we should just ban kids. Problem solved

[AnotherMcIntosh]

12. Or ban cops from carrying one round in the chamber of a pistol which does not have an external

safety like a 1911.

The Glock is inherently dangerous when loaded with one round in the chamber.

Here's another cop who was giving a talk to a classroom of kids, a cop that you've undoubtedly seen before.

This one, however, can't blame one of the students.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

3. The Glock manuals for civilian use, pg 15, advise against carrying a round in the chamber.

Obviously, the cop was neither following those Glock's instructions nor was he wearing a working type of holster commonly used by police departments with a strap to reduce the chanches of a unintended removal and discharge.



He unnecessarily put the children at risk. Some might reasonably think that he should be arrested and prosecuted for child endangerment.

[Lee-Lee]

4. All cops carry a round in the chamber

But he obviously was using a cheap thigh holster that left the trigger exposed. If you can't afford to do SWAT right with the right equipment, your department probably shouldn't be doing it at all.

WTF was a SWAT officer even doing at a reading event?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

5. "All"? You don't know that. You have no factual basis for pretending that you know that.

[Lee-Lee]

6. I was a cop, I have been to lots of the training

I promise you, all officers carry a round in the chamber.

I challenge you to find a single department in the USA that has an SOP that requires officers to carry empty chamber. Or a single LE firearms instructor who teaches that way.

You can't. Because they don't. It would be idiotic to carry in a way that would require additional seconds, both hands, and more complicated motor skills to get the firearms into use at moments where seconds count and you may be in a struggle that doesn't allow the use of both hands.

The only exception I can think of is I have seen some Israeli police carry that way. And LE all over widley criticize it. But nobody in the USA.

Off duty, some do. On duty? No way.

Edited to add- this is not a failure from loaded chamber carry. It was a failure of the officer using a cheap, crappy holster that left the trigger exposed.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

7. You weren't a cop in ALL police departments nor did you know ALL cops.

Nor are you an expert on the Israeli method when you implicitly claim to know that only "some" Israeli police use a C3 carry instead of a C1 carry.

[Lee-Lee]

11. I know enough

To know that no departments in the USA use C3. That last ones I knew of were MP's on some bases, but even MP's went to loaded chamber (C2, hammer down) years ago.

If there was a department anywhere that did, it would be well known and widely discussed as an aberration on all the LE and gun discussion boards. The exceptions to widely accepted practices always garner lots of attention. That I can't find a single agency that carries that way even looking the last few minutes speaks volumes.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

13. You "know enough"? I'm sure that you think that you do.

[Lee-Lee]

15. Like I said

Show me one department in the US that carries thier primary sidearm with an empty chamber.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

16. Your assertion without a factual basis does not require anyone to satisfy you with contrary proof.

You made the assertion. The burden of proof is on you (if you want someone to believe your nonsense).

You are an expert. One who knows everything about how all LEOs carry their firearms? I'm not convinced. You may have been a cop, however. One that is not always right, but always certain.

[Lee-Lee]

37. Ok, since you want to quibble

The vast, vast, vast majority of trained cops on the job have a round in the chamber, and you will find great ridicule fr the idea that LE sidearms should be carried unloaded from virtually everyone with experience and training in the field.

There, I left room in case there is the one moron officer somewhere oth there you think exists who thinks empty chamber carry is wise.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. I know every officer in the local academy

Is trained to carry with a round chambered...that be every cop in the county, since CHP does as well.

You are correct

[Duckhunter935]

8. bad writing but

"Police say because the gun was in a holster the accomodate the attached flashlight, the trigger was more accessible."

[Lee-Lee]

10. Like I said, crappy holster choice

It really explains it even more- holsters that will fit a flashlight come in two kinds usually- cheap generic junk, or specialty stuff that is not cheap.

Sounds like they went with cheap generic junk.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. It's not a pd that usually has to worry about it

I guess. The good news, none got seriously hurt

[Duckhunter935]

9. I am sure

lawyers put it in there

[bettyellen]

14. Another negligent gun owner, thanks.

[The Straight Story]

17. Yep, the only ones some think should own them are the cops

Funny how I don't hear people yelling to remove their guns.

The only people we think worthy, the ones we must trust and believe in, our government are not as god like as we thought when it comes to guns I guess.

And here is something - I would venture a guess that percent wise the avg US citizen we don't trust and fear has less gun mishaps and usage in a negative way than the government.

Yet some are so on fire to remove the rights from their fellow citizen.

But then, those folks have an agenda and personal bias and work hard to promote a stereotype (while condemning the whole idea of bashing a whole group based on the few on other issues).

[Hoyt]

18. Probably another inquisitive kid who has been raised in the gun culture.

[sarisataka]

19. Probably not

otherwise the child would have been taught to not tough a gun.

[Robb]

24. Because children of gun owners never shoot themselves. Not ever.

[sarisataka]

27. Didn't say not ever

but really which child is less likely to touch a gun. One who has received some education or one who is told 'don't do that' or is told nothing at all and the parents try and ignore guns out of existence?

In any case the fault lies with the officer who is not using a proper holster that covers the trigger. I had to look up holsters for guns with attached lights. Surprisingly there are several models, from major manufacturers, that leave an alarming amount of the trigger exposed. IMO they should be pulled immediately.

[Robb]

30. I think you'll find homes without guns have a lot fewer accidental shootings. nt

[sarisataka]

31. Logically true

but this did not happen in a home...

[Robb]

32. OK. Kids reading events without guns around have an impressive "no one accidentally shot" record.

[sarisataka]

33. Tree houses have very few electrical fires...

You are ignoring that the gun was in the possession of a police officer, not a beer swilling yahoo with a rebel flag t-shirt. Isn't the usual meme that only police should carry guns as they receive the training to have supernatural powers over firearms and are the only ones who can be trusted? This was a SWAT officer- one who has more training than a typical patrol officer.

[Robb]

34. Meme? You mean "straw man"?

I'm pretty sure I said something in this very thread about this man not being allowed to carry guns around people any more.

Let's see, what did I say... ah, yes! Here it is! I see why you missed it.

I'm glad no one was killed. However this officer should not be allowed to continue carrying firearms around the public.

If you want to argue against an opposing position you just make up, hell, go for it. But just let me know beforehand so I can leave you to yourself.

"Tree houses"...

[sarisataka]

35. I did see that

and agree he needs serious desk duty time.

Now speaking of straw men and making up positions... Talking about home without firearms as being analogous to an event with police officers present, unless you are implying police should not carry guns when dealing with the public...

edit add> I do appreciate that you agree the statement only police have the training to carry guns is a straw man. I thought that might be too controversial for GD so referred to it as a meme.

[Hoyt]

28. Yeah, like gun culture kids don't touch guns. Hell, most of gun culture start arming them at 6 - 8.

[sarisataka]

29. Citation...?

if true, then the children would know to not pull the trigger of a holstered gun, being expert markschildren and all...

[Eleanors38]

26. Actually, no. The kid had no training with guns to do something like that.

[NuclearDem]

20. Oh lord.

I'm shot in Lodi again.

[dionysus]

21. !

[Sheepshank]

22. Every school teacher needs be armed.....

...and that 'safety' issue only make sense if the gun is loaded and accessible in the blink of an eye. Not locked in drawers, not tucked away safely, but holstered, accessible and ready to shoot.

Kids won't be in harms way if the teacher has gone through safety courses.



Isn't that what the NRA is advocating?

[Monk06]

23. "I hate, 'My Pet Goat.'" BANG !!!

[Robb]

25. I'm glad no one was killed.

However this officer should not be allowed to continue carrying firearms around the public.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

38. The best way to make sure that he will not be allowed to continue to carry firearms around

the public is to prosecute him for child endangerment. Carrying one round in the chamber of a Glock in a holster which allowed the child to fire the gun is what led to this. Instead of "mistakes will happen," they should prosecute him.

[ileus]

36. Always a proper holster....

This is a strange story indeed....

I've never heard of a LEO carrying a firearm with a light mounted on the rail. I thought that was just civilian thing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. Swat does regularly

As well as many of my local cops.