Police trainee accidentally killed by instructor

AP via CNN ^ | 9/14/05

[PAR35]

AUSTELL, Georgia (AP) -- A trainee at a state law enforcement academy was accidentally shot and killed by her instructor Tuesday during a classroom exercise, authorities said.

The police trainee was among about 30 students in the seventh week of a state-mandated 10-week training course at the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy.

***

Cobb County Police spokesman Dana Pierce said the veteran instructor was "very traumatized" and had to seek medical attention.

[PAR35]

The instructor needs to be fired. He should probably face criminal charges as well.

[Sir Gawain]

These people need their guns taken away for our safety.

[Wormwood]

Another cops shoots an innocent victim.

Nothing to see here, folks!

[clee1]

I live near this area and have many friends on the Kennesaw City PD (where the victim was from) and on the Cobb County PD (where the instructer was from).

This "instructor" was widely known as "not the sharpest knife in the drawer", which was why he was "instructing" in the first place.

A tragedy, to be sure, but there is NO EXCUSE for incompetents to be "teaching" people. This also applys to our gooberment skrewel systems.

[KJC1]

Agreed. There is NO excuse for not clearing a weapon before using it in training.

This story is unbelievable. The instructor needs to be charged.

[Wormwood]

Not innocent, another cop.

Yikes.

No comment.

[KJC1]

Not innocent, another cop.

I guess you are part of the FR anti-police brigade.

From the bottom of my heart, go f yourself.

[kenth]

This happened in Oklahoma a few years back. I still don't understand how a police instructor "accidentally" shoots a trainee. It's negligence, especially with someone at that level.

[Squantos]

Any more details ?

Live fire range, class room with simunitions ? If ya hear can ya ping me please ?

Thanks...

[antiunion person]

I've always told my wife, don't piss me off when I have a gun in my hand. lol

Situation is not funny but I thought humor was needed at this particular moment.

[HiTech RedNeck]

'simunitions'? How do you kill someone with a blank?

[thefactor]

you are an ass. figures you're from canada. please stay there. enjoy your national health care.

[Aaron0617]

Live fire range, class room with simunitions ? If ya hear can ya ping me please ?

another looking for more info bump

[clee1]

Negligence, pure and simple.

The drumbeat is growing here, and I expect an indictment on negligent homicide charges soon.

[kenth]

Kennesaw police trainee dies after accidental shooting



A trainee at a Cobb County police academy was killed Tuesday when the instructor's gun accidentally went off during the first day of firearms training, authorities said.

The woman, a new recruit with the Kennesaw police department, was identified today as Tara Drummond, 23. She was among 30 rookie officers in the seventh week of a 10-week program at the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in Austell.

The trainees were in a classroom in the basement of the academy, located in a converted textile mill, when the gun discharged about 4 p.m., said Carol Morgan, the academy director.

County Sheriff Neil Warren, whose office administers the program for Cobb, declined to discuss details of the shooting.

Drummond was taken to a local hospital where she died a short time later.

She was the first Kennesaw police officer killed in the line of duty, said department spokesman Scott Luther.

Kennesaw police Chief Tim Callahan called the death "a tragic accident," and added: "For the next few days, we want to honor the life of this young officer who would have been a great officer one day."

The class instructor is an "experienced veteran" of the county sheriff's office who has been teaching at the academy for 10 years, Sheriff Warren said.

Shaken up by the shooting, the instructor was also taken to a hospital but later released, Warren said.

The instructor, who was not named, has been placed on administrative leave until an internal investigation by the sheriff's office, the county police department and Austell police.

[Squantos]

Bruce Lee's boy and a lot of folks have been killed with blanks at contact or close ranges.

Simunitions can kill if a contact shot.....hostage situation played out , role playing , muzzle to the temple of the victims noggin etc etc ....possible. Rare but possible.

[clee1]

It was in a classroom, reportedly during a weapons-retention exercise. All the students were equipped with rubber guns. The instructer should NEVER have brought a "live" weapon into the room.

[thefactor]

simunitions, if i remember my academy days (not that they were too long ago), are projectiles. recruits dress in a full body foam suit and go through simulations. you can see the soft projectiles. i have hit some and been hit by some. they do not hurt, but on bare skin they would leave a welt or perhaps break the skin. if it goes into your eye, you're done.

[John W]

More here---

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=69255