Posted on 05/01/2012 9:51:00 PM PDT by smokingfrog
Mayor Bill VanSuch has asked the Campbell Police Department to investigate how a handgun discharged in the police chief’s office.
The incident happened April 17 as Chief Gus Sarigianopoulos was checking the gun to see if it was loaded.
Van Such said he intended to ask a detective-sergeant to investigate, and he is asking the chief to cooperate.
In a letter to VanSuch dated Thursday, Sarigianopoulos said he was attempting to clear the gun, which was pointed down toward the floor, when it discharged.
The police department had recently acquired the Vietnam-era handgun from state-government surplus.
The gun, one of three the department acquired about six weeks ago, is a single-action Colt 1911 .45-caliber semiautomatic, said Officer Dave Smith, a firearms instructor for the department.
Smith said that though it is an older gun, it is still a good model that could be used an officer’s service gun.
He also said the department can benefit from training with the single- action guns, because its officers are more familiar with the double-action Glocks they use now.
“It benefits the department because if they come across one on the streets, they know how to clear it,” he said.
The department was also asked in October to account for an accidental discharge while the chief and other officers were on a call.
(Excerpt) Read more at vindy.com ...
Uh, someone hit the trigger or someone dropped it and it went off (assuming no dogs present).
Gotta be the ole finger on the trigger thing. I have 1911’s and Glocks and I treat them all the same.
I doubt very seriously that you could make a 1911 “go off” by dropping it.
More likely the idjit assumed that once he ejected the magazine the gun was unloaded.
I’m guessing he thought he pulled out the magazine 1st and then cleared the weapon. Seeing a round flying to his right he assumed the weapon was cleared and pulled the trigger, letting the hammer strike and didn’t realize he hadn’t pulled out the magazine.
It happens and is why I turn the gun over to see the magazine is indeed not in the gun, then I clear the gun, turn it over again, pull the slide back again, point it at the floor to visually be certain the gun is totally clear and then I pull the trigger or gently let it down.
On my Kimbers the damn spring is strong I just pull the trigger. On all my other arms I have no problem gently letting the hammer come down.
Stuff happens.
yeah, the ole dropped gun thing is more of a myth than reality. Even for that era of a 1911.
It’s possible but not probable.
I think it was the other way around and he didn’t take out the magazine, pulled the slide back and seeing a round eject thought the thing was cleared.
Saw my Mom’s husband do just that at the range once.
Lesson learned and never, ever forgot.
You like Chinese Food? I have a friend who has a restaurant and I’d like to take you.
It’s in Willow Glen. It’s called Sweet Mango and the owner is a real nice gal. She worked at the Taiwan for years and then opened this place with her husband two years ago.
Gee, Bonehead doesn’t know how to operate the most iconic gun of the last 101 years?
It can, with one in the pipe and the hammer down.
Looking down the chamber after removing the mag helps.
Obviously an outdated design.
*ducking*
It was designed to be “cocked and locked”
There is no safety that blocks the hammer from the firing pin with one in the pipe and the hammer down.
The grip safety disables the trigger mechanism
Its apparent the gun wasn’t dropped on the hammer, because the bullet ended up in the floor.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: How many counts in that movement you just
executed?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, 4 counts, sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Whats the idea of looking down in the
chamber?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, that is to guarantee that the private is not
giving the inspecting officer a loaded weapon, sir!
Since the gun was purchased at a surplus sale, they may have wrongly ASSumed that someone checked to see that it was unloaded before putting it up for sale?
That’s a fact, jack!
A chambered round and an itchy trigger finger will get you every time.
I rack the slide three times, look down the chamber, look in the magazine well, then let the hammer down easy.
Not very John Wayne, I guess.
It’s happened before.
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