U.S. Air Marshal Forgets Gun in Restroom

AP via Yahoo ^ | Friday 09 April 2004 | AP

[archy]

U.S. Air Marshal Forgets Gun in Restroom Fri Apr 9,10:14 PM ET Add U.S. National -

CLEVELAND - A federal air marshal accidentally left her gun in a restroom at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, an airport spokeswoman said Friday.

A passenger found the semiautomatic handgun Thursday and notified an airport employee. The employee then told airport police, who secured the weapon, said the spokeswoman, Pat Smith.

"They later found it belonged to a federal air marshal who apparently was using the restroom and put it up on the shelf while she was washing her hands and forgot about it," Smith said.

Dave Adams, a spokesman for the federal Air Marshal Service, said the marshal, whose name was not released, probably would be suspended.

"The air marshal realized within five minutes that she had lost her weapon, went back to the police department and it was subsequently returned to her," Adams said. "Obviously, we are very concerned about the situation."

There were no delays or other disruptions at the airport.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

After boot camp I flew to Norfolk to report to the USS Barney. They told us over and over "don't lose your orders". I'm staniding in front of the urinal doing my thing and I have my carry on bag and my orders on the floor to my right leaning against the wall.

I'm staring at them so they can't be stolen. I finish up, grab my bag and orders, wash my hands and walk out of the bathroom. I get about 70 yards away and realize I left my wallet on top of the shelf above the urinal. DOH!

I sprint back and of course the 2 minutes that have elapsed has seen my wallet disappear along with my I.D. CARD!

So I call the ship and tell them I have no money and no I.D.. Please come pick me up. hahahaha. It's so funny now but it sucked hard back then.

I report in to the Duty Officer (CHENG), a LtCmdr, and tell him what happened.

He asks me three questions. "Are you married?" no "Good". "Do you have a car?" no. "Good". "Are you going to live on board the ship?" yes. "Even better, the Duty Master at Arms will get you a bunk assigned......"

The rest is history.LOL

[HiTech RedNeck]

Lay something on top of it to hide it, would be my take. Like a hat or coat, or some paper towels. Then go alert the airport security, or if possible stay and ask a passerby to.

[TaxRelief]

They let women be air marshalls?

[brushcop]

As well as her employers!

[brushcop]

And it took her FIVE minutes to realize that she "lost" her gun! In 31 years of law enforcement, my sidearm was never, ever out of my mind--EVER! Inexcusable.

[archy]

They let women be air marshalls?

I've known a couple of pretty good ones, one a former MP with the 82nd Airborne, another one a former Border Patrol Inspector who wanted out of uniformed cop work and into plainclothes/investigations work, on her way to becoming a federal investigator. It's my hope that the one in Cleveland was the exception rather than them.

[SLB]

When I first started carrying I used an old day planner with foam rubber inserts. It worked really well, but with the gun off of my body I kept wondering what would happen if I was separated from it. It almost happened at a Kroger one night. I had laid it in the kiddies seat of the cart and while checking out the bagger took off with the cart. That was the first and last time I did that. Lesson learned. Now use a IWB with a full size M1911A1, a little uncomfortable at times, but I know exactly where it is.

[cajun-jack]

Heck no she won't be fired..she will be promoted to training officer to point to the new recruits things you should NOT do.

[leadpenny]

Maybe the Air Marshal can go on the Today Snow.

Couric: Which Republican caused you to misplace your gun and how horrible do you feel about it?

[Searching4Justice]

I remember when I left my bazooka . . .

ya know it seems like only yesterday when I mistakenly double parked my 8 inch howitzer and forgot about it all day......must be somethin in the air huh ?

[Searching4Justice]

What in the world was she doing with her weapon in there

myabe she was trying to "outdraw" herself in the mirror !!!

[nonsporting]

What does washing one's hands have to do with a concealed weapon?

Good question. Maybe her stated reason is not true.

There are TWO places that I've found weapons in the men's room here in Arizona: (a) on the back of the toilet, (b) on the top of the urinal.

[mtbopfuyn]

But it was getting her new outfit all greasy so she took it out of it's holster to wash is off with hot soapy water and sat it on the shelf to drip dry while she checked her makeup.

[Gunrunner2]

Interesting. . .but one does wonder why you were rooting around in back of a toilet. . .hmmmm. . .

;-)

What did you do with the weapons? I would be tempted to keep, but in case they are "hot" I guess my nature would have been to turn them in to the police.

[nonsporting]

Interesting. . .but one does wonder why you were rooting around in back of a toilet. . .hmmmm. . .

Forgive my lack of precision. One gun was on the "top of the toilet tank."

As to what I did with the weapons: Both weapons' owners returned before I could begin my business. Had they not, I would have finished my business, made the weapons safe and returned them to the proprietor. If he had been unwilling to accept them, I would have kept them while trying to find the owner(s) by checking back with the business.

This is Arizona--I imagine this is not all that uncommon (in a men's room). If no one claimed the weapons, I would have kept them, after documenting the conditions of their discovery. In California (at least in 1995) one had to go through DOJ to do a weapon's transfer. (Not sure what provision the law makes for finding a gun.)

[Gunrunner2]

Thanks for the informative reply to my not-so-serious query.

Cheers

[nonsporting]

Thanks for the informative reply to my not-so-serious query.

You are welcome. You did raise a good question.

My greatest concern was possibly being covered by muzzle of the weapon while the owner secured it. I hate it when that happens.

[Gunrunner2]

Yeah. . .me too.
I can just see it in the restroom:

"Freeze! Drop your weapon. . .no, the OTHER weapon!"

[jdomino]

Well, atleast she DID wash her hands before returning to work. Maybe investing in a shoulder holster would prevent further mishaps, that or maybe not hiring complete morons. Duuuuhhhh, I am an Air Marshall, here is my badge and here is my.....ahhh crap.

[Joe Hadenuf]

The feds give this dumb broad a gun and won't arm pilots. I bet she didn't forget her lipstick. The inmates are in charge of the asylum.

Absolutely frightening...