Cops hunt for gun lost by Plymouth captain in courthouse bathroom

The Boston Herald ^ | 29 Jan 2013 | Laurel Sweet

[IYAS9YAS]

Dropped his shooter in the sh***er, huh? Bummer.

[DPMD]

Will he now face prosecution for failing to store the gun properly? Get David Gregory on the story.

[fredhead]

Kind of like what I do with my car keys. After locking them in my car a couple of times, once at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, I got into the habit of placing my keyring in my teeth, until I close and lock the car door, when I then put the keys in my pocket. I guess it looks funny, but I haven’t locked my keys in the car in years.

[USNBandit]

I hold my keys up in front of my face with one hand and then close the door with the other.

[Boogieman]

If I found it, I wouldn’t keep it. Too much trouble if you got caught with it. I’d sell it to a gangbanger instead :)

[Celtic Conservative]

In nearly 20 years as a sworn law enforcement officer I haven't even thought about leaving my sidearm in the bathroom. Do I know those who did... (grimaces)...Yes. Now, My portable radio, that's another story. Fortunately i've had my vehicles base unit to, ahem"jog" my memory and never more than a few minutes. Nothing i've had to document to the chain of command, fortunately.

CC

[BitWielder1]

“compound interest”

Good analogy. Depending on the history of the gun, of which you know nothing, you could find yourself in various depth of really hot water.
A cop gun - bad. A gun used in a crime and the ballistics to prove it - really bad.
You would basically not be able to use that gun, ever.
If you should ever get into trouble for anything, you don't want them to find it among your possessions.

Best to secure the area and call the cops.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

If a private citizen was involved they would be in a screaming rage.

[wideawake]

If you find a random abandoned firearm it might be evidence of a crime.

It is hard to tell whether it is simply misplaced or has been ditched by someone who had a reason to ditch it.

I would not touch it and I would call the police to take custody of it.

I'd feel pretty bad if I had discovered evidence that could put a bad guy away for a long time, but somehow messed things up through my actions or inaction and gave him a free pass.