[smokingfrog]

[Paladin2]

"how a handgun discharged in the police chief’s office"

Uh, someone hit the trigger or someone dropped it and it went off (assuming no dogs present).

[Vendome]

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.

[Dogbert41]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=948-2Vzgi3w

He did his first desk pop!

[mylife]

Gee, Bonehead doesn’t know how to operate the most iconic gun of the last 101 years?

[WKUHilltopper]

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

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

A chambered round and an itchy trigger finger will get you every time.

[TangoLimaSierra]

The police department had recently acquired the Vietnam-era handgun from state-government surplus.

I'll bet there's a citizen who's been trying to get that gun back for years.

[Alas Babylon!]

OK, let me be the first to say... WTF does the mayor need an invesitgation for? The chief screwed up. I’ll bet that won’t happen again. End of story.

The mayor just wants to get reelected, and starting an investigation over this just panders to the gun grabbers who are probably outraged that a policeman used and fired a gun, even if by accident.

[TXnMA]

"“It benefits the department because if they come across one on the streets, they know how to clear it,” he said."

INSTRUCTIONS: "To clear weapon, fire chambered round; repeat until empty."