My bad: When S.F. cops accidentally shoot

[RamboLiberal]

During an instructional class for crime scene investigators inside San Francisco's Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St.,a veteran inspector began a discussion on single action vs. double action firearms when -- kaboom! -- his gun fired a bullet straight through a cubicle wall.

No one was hurt, but a person familiar with the Aug. 8 incident inside Room 442 later joked, "The investigators got a crime scene to investigate all right -- their office."

The accidental discharge was just one of 29 unplanned shootings by the city's police officers since 2005, when the department began tracking all shots fired, planned or otherwise. Documents that summarize the incidents showed that San Francisco officers have, to their great displeasure, accidentally shot themselves in the hand (while cleaning a gun) and in the leg (while holstering) and in the foot (but of course).

Given the high number of gun-toting officers on the force -- more than 2,000 -- and the number of their daily interactions with firearms, an accidental discharge is rare. Almost statistically nonexistent.

But when they happen, they can be totally embarrassing. Aside from the collegial ribbing that comes after shot-gunning an innocent file cabinet (more on that later), a bad discharge can also stain an officer's personnel file. One law enforcement authority told us the blunder goes under-reported. Our source theorized, "Would you call your commander to tell him you just shot off a round at home while cleaning your gun?"

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/crime/detail?entry_id=81924#ixzz1CLisKWSE

[shadowrider]

1. This is unpossible. The police have been thoroughly trained and

are the only ones supposed to have guns.

[safeinOhio]

2. I talked to an older gentle man

with a cast on his hand that had, as he told me, shot himself in the hand while cleaning his handgun. Then he told me he has been an NRA gun safety instructor for over 35 years. Guns CAN be dangerous, even in the hands of the best trained people.

[guitar man]

3. DEA agent shoots himself in the foot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxWWJaTEdD0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[littlewolf]

4. it can happen .. the DEA agent is esp. funny

1. All guns are loaded. keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction.
2. keep your finger out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot
3. to do not point a gun at anything you are not prepared to destroy.
4. Be sure of your target and what's behind it.

This is drilled into folks almost daily ... and their are still AD (accidental discharge) usually at the clearing bbl.

I think there have been 2 in 5 years .... 2 too many .... no one was hurt ... just embarrassed

[YllwFvr]

5. 18 year vet near me

shot himself in the hand in a grocery store while on duty. He discharged the weapon while showing it off to a friend. Id show you the link but the news site took it down and all thats left is the story pasted to the forum that linked it.