Officer Aims For Pit Bull, Accidentally Shoots Fiance

The Indy Channel ^ | December 29, 2005 | AP

[Abathar]

GARY, Ind. -- An auxiliary police officer accidentally shot her fiance in the leg while defending herself from a charging pit bull, authorities said.

The officer, Tracey Berry, will be required to be retrained on firearms, Deputy Chief Jeff Kumorek said Wednesday. Berry's police powers have been temporarily suspended in the meantime, he said.

"Witness accounts support her statement that the dog was attacking her," Kumorek said.

Berry was scheduled to work security for a basketball tournament Monday at Gary West High School and was walking toward the south entrance when a pit bull began running toward her, police said. The closest door was locked, keeping her from seeking shelter inside, and another auxiliary officer's effort to use his car to block the dog was unsuccessful.

At that point, Kumorek said Berry shot at the dog and hit her fiance, 40-year-old Andre Senter, who was nearby. Senter, who was hit in the leg, was treated at The Methodist Hospitals in Gary and released.

"Based on the investigation we believe it's an accidental shooting. But if there is a deficiency in her firearms training, then we need to address that," Kumorek said. "We want to retrain her with her weapon before we put her back on the street."

[Abathar]

Oops...

[mtbopfuyn]

The officer, Tracey Berry, will be required to be retrained on firearms

Ya think?

[1rudeboy]

Sorry, honey.
That's all right, I'll figure out a way for you to make it up to me.

[Ninian Dryhope]

Nothing is as terrifying to all in the area as a woman with a gun.

[MineralMan]

Time to visit the range, it seems. What is up with the current rash of cops shooting themselves or some other wrong thing these days?

Did they close all the ranges?

[R. Scott]

The officer, Tracey Berry, will be required to be retrained on firearms…

Was he ever trained properly to begin with?

[TheBigB]

And this from the "You think YOU'RE having a bad day?!" Department...

[KeyLargo]

How do we know that he wasn't aiming for his fiance?

[cripplecreek]

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I doubt if she is fixable.

[Gator101]

It might have been a ricochet

[E. Pluribus Unum]

If she had been a he, he would be fired.

[Puppage]

Maybe the fiance was a dog, too?

[Slings and Arrows]

Berry was scheduled to work security for a basketball tournament

I found her employer:

[MineralMan]

"How do we know that he wasn't aiming for his fiance?"

Reading is FUNdamental. The cop was a woman. Note the "her fiance" in the article.

[Spok]

It's hard to find an ulterior motive. Now if they were married...

[saveliberty]

Oh he is in the doghouse now...

[ncountylee]

Training? This is a dog...this is a human leg?

[Wolfie]

I hope the dog's ok.

[Jeff Chandler]

Could have been an honest mistake. Are there any photos of the guy?