Posted on 05/17/2003 2:04:52 PM PDT by chance33_98
Officer shoots himself in foot
An Anchorage police officer was hospitalized this morning after he accidentally shot himself in the foot. It happened around 9:30 in a Turnagain neighborhood near Earthquake Park. Police were in pursuit of a man wanted by U.S. Marshals.
The officer had pulled out his shotgun to assist in the pursuit when he accidentally shot himself in the left foot. Officer Paul Morino is recovering tonight at Providence Hospital.
Anchorage Police were called in this morning to help U.S. Marshals track down a probation violator.
Police say marshals found the 31-year-old suspect, Shelby Ward, at a home on Carleton Avenue. They also found cocaine.
Police say one of the marshals got into a physical struggle with Ward at the home. Ward managed to flee the scene.
APD was called in to help. When Officer Morino arrived, he parked his cruiser near Woronzof Drive. He grabbed his shotgun and that's when it accidentally went off hitting him in the foot.
He is a member of a task force, a DEA task force at the police department. He's been with the department for 18 years. He's a veteran, one of our more senior officers. He's been doing it for a long time and he's quite good at it, said Ron McGee, APD.
Authorities did arrest Ward this morning. He was found hiding in a ditch on Kissee Court.
Police say Ward is on probation for three convictions dating back to 1994 primarily on drug related charges.
Police say Morino was alert and awake hours after the shooting. Providence Hospital says Officer Morino requested that his condition not be released.
Its standard procedure for APD to investigate anytime an officer discharges a weapon. Police are looking into whether Morino's shotgun accidentally discharged or he had his finger on the trigger.
That's where I want to live by-golly!
FMCDH
Suuuuuure is!
FMCDH
DOH!
Trust me. He had his finger on the trigger.
Most probably, but IIRC there have been cases of shotguns discharging when dropped or rapped sharply. Most shotguns are designed for bird hunting or trap shooting, and only get slight (dare I say "cosmetic"?) changes when pressed into police, home defense or military service. Usually those changes only involve a change in finish, barrell length, magazine tube length, and maybe the addition of a different stock. They don't usually address the mechanicals. Consequently, most of them aren't really designed for really rough duty. Although designed for LE/defense use from the beginning, the Franchi shotgun models SPAS 12, SAS 12 and LAW, shotguns were recalled because they could discharge as they were taken off safe.
the mutt will get it
Okay, here's his condition: Limping badly and embarassed as H#LL.
He is a member of a task force, a DEA task force at the police department. He's been with the department for 18 years. He's a veteran, one of our more senior officers. He's been doing it for a long time and he's quite good at it
Apparently not that good at it.
Repeat after me: Only trained Law-Enforcement Personel should have guns.
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