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Moms, kids find officer's loaded gun in South Austin park
Austin American Statesman ^ | 7.7.08 | Tony Plohetski

Posted on 07/08/2008 3:19:12 PM PDT by trumandogz

A group of mothers and kindergarten students at a South Austin park found the loaded gun of an Austin police officer who did not know for hours that his weapon was missing, officials said today.

Austin police Lt. Donald Baker said supervisors are reviewing how Officer Daniel Eveleth's Glock handgun might have fallen from his holster while he was at Slaughter Creek Metropolitan Park training a police dog at about 5 a.m. Monday.

Officials said they did not immediately know whether one of the children or a parent discovered the gun.

Officers responded to the park after one of the mothers called 911 and learned that the gun was registered to Eveleth, who has been an officer for about 11 years.

They returned the weapon to Eveleth's home and told him where it had been found, Baker said.

"He had no idea he was missing the weapon from his holster," Baker said. "It doesn't look like it was done in negligence."

Elizabeth Phillips, a mother who was at the park, said she arrived soon after officers showed up.

She said the gun appeared to have been on a slide, that officers were still standing around it and that about a dozen children were nearby.

"I was completely shocked," she said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: bang; banglist; donutwatch; leo
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What a Moron!
1 posted on 07/08/2008 3:19:13 PM PDT by trumandogz
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To: trumandogz

Damn. I never find anything. :o(


2 posted on 07/08/2008 3:20:30 PM PDT by BigCinBigD (")
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To: trumandogz

3 posted on 07/08/2008 3:20:46 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: BigCinBigD
"He had no idea he was missing the weapon from his holster,"

His gun was out of the holster and his head was up his a$$.

4 posted on 07/08/2008 3:22:34 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: trumandogz
Eddie says, "that's how it's supposed to work, kids!

If you see a gun:

STOP!
Don't Touch.
Leave the Area.
Tell an Adult.

5 posted on 07/08/2008 3:25:44 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (If it is going to take 10 years, shouldn't we get started? Drill here, drill now, pay less.)
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To: trumandogz

“It doesn’t look like it was done in negligence.” Umm, what?


6 posted on 07/08/2008 3:25:52 PM PDT by kms61
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To: trumandogz

Finders keepers.


7 posted on 07/08/2008 3:26:28 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (John McCain, the Manchurian Candidate.)
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To: trumandogz
Training a police dog where children play?
8 posted on 07/08/2008 3:29:15 PM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto!)
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To: kms61
“It doesn’t look like it was done in negligence.” Umm, what?

Thank goodness he was just drunk and not negligent .

9 posted on 07/08/2008 3:30:21 PM PDT by kbennkc (For those who have fought for it , freedom has a flavor the protected will never know)
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To: Navy Patriot

The cop is lucky that some kid did not find the gun and blast away at his classmates.

I would call that murder.


10 posted on 07/08/2008 3:30:21 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: kms61

Isn’t this the epitome of negligence? Perhaps the spokesperson meant to say it was not intentional.


11 posted on 07/08/2008 3:31:02 PM PDT by Burkean
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

The Canine must have been training the cop.


12 posted on 07/08/2008 3:31:03 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: trumandogz
LOL, good chance it is smarter!
13 posted on 07/08/2008 3:34:08 PM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto!)
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To: trumandogz
In the park.
Removing parts of his uniform.
At night (or 5 AM, anyway).

Well, ya see, I was training a police dog. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

14 posted on 07/08/2008 3:36:56 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Et si omnes ego non)
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
"Training a police dog where children play?"

I'm praying they've checked to make sure he hasn't lost the dog as well....

15 posted on 07/08/2008 3:38:15 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: trumandogz
Maybe someone was taking a wee-wee break...and the canine had the good sense to lead him away.
16 posted on 07/08/2008 3:38:37 PM PDT by airforceF4
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

Yes, but at 5 a.m.


17 posted on 07/08/2008 3:40:26 PM PDT by jdub
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To: ClearCase_guy

That means our cop in question left the park, went back to the police station, went home and still did not realize he was missing his Glock!


18 posted on 07/08/2008 3:42:00 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: Joe 6-pack

The Dog will be demoted for not checking to see if the officer under his command lost his weapon.


19 posted on 07/08/2008 3:43:56 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: Navy Patriot
Finders keepers.

Sorry only cops should have guns.

20 posted on 07/08/2008 3:44:06 PM PDT by TYVets
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To: trumandogz

You know how light and insubstantial Glocks are! It just slipped out and he never noticed the monumental crash, or the fact that his pants were five pounds lighter...


21 posted on 07/08/2008 3:44:44 PM PDT by LongElegantLegs (We are all humans, and humans poo.)
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To: trumandogz
Photobucket

"Where's my Glock?"

22 posted on 07/08/2008 3:44:58 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: trumandogz
The cop is lucky

Certainly is.

I propose that Officer Daniel Eveleth be required to keep a trigger lock on his firearms at all times, and that I be given the only key.

23 posted on 07/08/2008 3:45:56 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (John McCain, the Manchurian Candidate.)
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To: Navy Patriot

Thankfully, this is not a story about a dead kid, a kid that will walk around for the rest of his life knowing he accidently killed a friend and a Cop charged with murder.


24 posted on 07/08/2008 3:49:29 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: trumandogz

Dummy Cords and or Lanyards !.....:o)


25 posted on 07/08/2008 3:51:24 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: trumandogz

Whoops.

I can see how one might have a pistol fall out when working and horsing around with a dog. Not all holsters are as good at preventing such a thing as others. But it shouldn’t take very long to notice it missing. The change in weight alone is noticable.


26 posted on 07/08/2008 3:54:23 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: trumandogz

Another law enforcement professional at work...


27 posted on 07/08/2008 3:57:07 PM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
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To: Ramius

He went back to the police station and then went home and still did not know he dropped his piece in the park.

He needs to be fired.


28 posted on 07/08/2008 3:57:26 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: NonValueAdded

Your right, great chance to educate a kid about guns. The earlier the better too.


29 posted on 07/08/2008 4:15:31 PM PDT by Toki
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To: trumandogz

Yah... that’s a bit much. I can see maybe getting back to the car and then realizing it’s gone, but back to the station? And nobody else there noticed either? You’d think some other cop would point and go “dude... where’s yer gun?”

I wonder if he may have noticed it missing, but assumed that he’d left it behind at home? Then he got home and looked for it, didn’t find it? That’s the only thing that makes any sense.


30 posted on 07/08/2008 4:19:39 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: Ramius
The story indicates that the cops who were called to the park, looked at the gun and saw the little tag that says "If Found, Please Return to Officer Daniel Eveleth..."

They then went to Eveleth's house and said:

"Hey Boy, you are in a world of $h1t, you left your gun in the park to be found by a kid in kindergarden, your name will be in the big city papers and Freepers from Sea to Shining Sea will be making fun of your dumb ass all night!"

31 posted on 07/08/2008 4:27:52 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: kms61
“It doesn’t look like it was done in negligence.” Umm, what?

If this happens to a "trained professional", imagine this and other things happening by the lowly masses.

This is a prime reason why all guns should be taken away from ordinary folk.

32 posted on 07/08/2008 4:39:17 PM PDT by mountn man (The pleasure you get from life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.)
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To: kms61
Oh yeah.

/sarcasm>

33 posted on 07/08/2008 4:39:58 PM PDT by mountn man (The pleasure you get from life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.)
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To: Toki

Yup. It’s better to gun-proof the kid than to rely on everybody kid-proofing their guns. And yes, the earlier the better.

Even really little kids can be taught, and the eddie eagle program is great for that. Kids that are older can even be taught how to properly handle, unload and clear most guns. I was about 9 or 10 when I got those lessons. Different kids are different.

You just never know. They could be over at a friend’s house, or anywhere... and some kid comes up with a gun and says “hey, look at this...”

Stop
Don’t touch
Get away
Tell an adult

If the other kids don’t listen: get away faster.

Many years ago my Mom had a good idea along those lines. She said if there was ever a situation where some little kid was waving a gun around, maybe going to pull the trigger, point at something like the TV (i.e. a safer direction) and tell them “shoot the TV”. Then rush the kid, grabbing their hands and keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction while you carefully take it away.


34 posted on 07/08/2008 4:43:03 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: trumandogz

A cop and his gun. Wouldn’t that be about the equivalent of a race car driver and his car? Imagine Jeff Gordon at Daytona without his car.


35 posted on 07/08/2008 4:47:25 PM PDT by mountn man (The pleasure you get from life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

DOHHHHH!!!!!!!!


36 posted on 07/08/2008 4:48:24 PM PDT by mountn man (The pleasure you get from life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.)
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To: trumandogz

...”but there’s no evidence of any negligence”. Uh....K...


37 posted on 07/08/2008 4:48:48 PM PDT by jagusafr ("Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of 'em!" - Robert Heinlein)
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To: mountn man

No, more like Pedro Martinez going up to the mound to pitch without his right arm.


38 posted on 07/08/2008 5:01:16 PM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: mountn man

“trained professional”

Speaking of Glocks and trained professionals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am-Qdx6vky0


39 posted on 07/08/2008 5:29:12 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Black dogs and bacon bombs.)
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To: trumandogz

If he had dropped his donut bag, do ya think he would’ve noticed that missing?


40 posted on 07/09/2008 4:53:49 AM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: trumandogz

I think that he was meeting someone at the park for a romantic tyrst. A few years ago I would had thought of the female persuasion but this day and age it could have been a male.When he took off his equipment belt to get more comfortable, the gun came out of the holster. The training a police dog story I do not buy.


41 posted on 07/09/2008 5:08:08 AM PDT by sport
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To: basil; txflake; ValerieTexas

I heard about this yesterday. Just how can you MISS your weapon?


42 posted on 07/09/2008 6:29:39 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (A vote for any Democrat from BO on down the ticket is a vote for $10 a gallon gas.)
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To: trumandogz

Some of the radio and television reports in the Austin area are saying the gun was found on the bottom (end) of the slide. I’m thinking that if you accidently drop you gun on a metal slide, A, you would hear it hit, and B it would not stay on the slide. So, the question becomes: why did he disarm and place his gun on the slide? What activity did he engage in that was so special that he forgot all about the gun?


43 posted on 07/09/2008 7:39:01 AM PDT by basil (Support the Second Amendment-buy another gun today!)
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To: trumandogz
"It doesn't look like it was done in negligence."

Done? Negligence takes no effort.

44 posted on 07/09/2008 7:59:42 AM PDT by Fundamentally Fair (If given a choice between a POW and a POS, I'll take the POW.)
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To: Ramius

I guess that depends upon the weight of the cop. Does this cop have weight issues? If he is hauling around 40 lbs of lard it would probably be harder to notice a 5 lb reduction in weight on the belt.


45 posted on 07/09/2008 8:05:00 AM PDT by allmendream
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To: basil

My guess that also. He was in the park at that time meeting someone and for whatever reason he had his pants down. Simply, use your imagination to determine what he may have been doing by the slide in a park at 5:00 in the morning.

I once worked with a woman in Austin who bragged to her female coworkers that she and other women in town had a fetish for cops and that they had some sort of network where they would give APD cops their phone numbers and would meet them whenever wherever to play the Bubba & Monica game.


46 posted on 07/09/2008 9:58:32 AM PDT by trumandogz ("He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and it worries me." Sen Cochran on McCain)
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To: ClearCase_guy
In the park. Removing parts of his uniform. At night (or 5 AM, anyway). Well, ya see, I was training a police dog. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

"I wassssss.....uuuuhhhhhhhh, Training my dog! Yeah, training my dog, that's the ticket!"

47 posted on 07/09/2008 10:44:21 AM PDT by FooBarBaz (A coward judges all he sees by what he is.)
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To: trumandogz

You win! LOL! This liberal bastion in the middle of a red state is so often a source of embarassment to most of the rest of Texas.


48 posted on 07/09/2008 11:21:38 AM PDT by basil (Support the Second Amendment-buy another gun today!)
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To: pesto

Ping! See how much excitement we have in Austin—LOL!


49 posted on 07/09/2008 11:25:43 AM PDT by basil (Support the Second Amendment-buy another gun today!)
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To: Ramius

Have you priced televisions lately?!?!?


50 posted on 07/09/2008 11:46:16 AM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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