Posted on 05/07/2008 5:23:02 AM PDT by Abathar
RIVERDALE, Utah - The police chief who shot himself in the ankle was waving a loaded pistol and being careless, according to two students who were attending his class to qualify for a concealed-weapons permit. "We were told the gun is the chief's personal sidearm, but it looked to me like he didn't know anything about the gun," Lewis Walker said.
Bart Ulm, another student seeking certification to carry a concealed weapon, said he was surprised Chief Dave Hansen was using a loaded gun to show how it worked.
"Right then, I was very leery, because there's no need to have live ammo in a gun in the class. But I figured he's the chief, so he must know what he's doing," Ulm told the Standard-Examiner of Ogden.
Hansen held the Glock 40 under a table to disassemble it when a bullet fired, Walker said.
The chief cried, "I'm hit," and fell over. Students who were screaming "Officer down!" were urged to call 911.
The gun went off in a conference room Saturday at Riverdale police headquarters.
Hansen was taken to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden for surgery and released Monday, Lt. James Ebert said.
Ebert said the findings of an internal investigation would be announced Wednesday. He declined to offer specifics but disputed the accounts of Ulm and Walker, describing the pair as "disgruntled."
Other students "did not share that feeling" about the chief, Ebert told The Associated Press.
Walker said he didn't have confidence in the investigation.
"I think Riverdale police are just trying to keep this quiet and act like the chief is a hero. But if you ask me, he's really stupid," Walker said. "His state certification to teach concealed-weapons classes should be taken away from him. This was totally gross negligence."
Ulm said there was a moment of levity during the emergency.
He said an officer at the scene joked that "instead of shooting himself, he should have used the Taser."
My question is what about Walker and Ulm who where described as disgruntled due to their comments.
Are they going to be turned away for their license for conceal to carry or however you say it?
Did they get a description of the shooter in all the chaos?
The two party check is for when you are with others
In classes I've gone to, and whenever I teach, we use the two-party check, where the owner of the gun verifies that it is unloaded, and a second party double-checks (by sight and by sticking his finger in the empty chamber) that it is unloaded.
The reason for it is, you need to be double-sure when an error might endanger others.
The reason for checking by sight AND feel is that occasionally people think they see what ought to be there rather than what IS there
What out the door? 911!!!!!!
I would be more than "disgruntled" if I found out that some dipweed had been carelessly waving a loaded gun in my direction during a class
Sounds like too many chiefs here in MA. Largely political hacks with little or no familiarity with firearms.
JMHO
Note the passive voice.
"Hansen held the Glock 40 under a table to disassemble it when he pulled the trigger and shot himself", Walker said
There, fixed it...
“But I figured he’s the chief, so he must know what he’s doing,”
There is a reason that one of the logical fallacies is “Appeal to Authority.” The folks in the class learned a valuable lesson, both about firearms and life in general.
CC
Another rogue Glock gone bad!
Ban them!
Soon after, this commander had a negligent discharge within inches of a student's head. He lost his academy.
Last I heard, he was training Iraqi police forces in 2003. Shudder!
I could argue for gun control on an as needed basis in this case....but I won’t.
Just the standard sarcastic statement that only professionals should be trusted with guns.
Another reason not to rely on the “professionals” for your own protection.
somewhere on the internet there is a video of a drug officer talking to the elementary school kids about the dangers of guns.
He takes out his gun and promptly shoots himself in the foot. Gotta give him credit for being a show biz trooper, however. He says something like, “see there how dangerous this is” while he’s hopping around on one foot.
lmao.
“As My master trainers are fond of saying “you gotta be smarter than the gun you’re carrying””
And...never drive faster than your IQ.
Yeah, they are required to appease this dickweed for the priveledge of exercising their God given Right...
for the unneccesary ccw, a simple form with the question...'Have you ever shot anyone while dis-assembling a firearm?'...
No...= 'grant' the permit
yes...= ...please send resume to "chief of police", PO box...
LFOD...
No such thing. A glock .40 SW caliber perhaps?
I'm a graphic designer. From now on when I get shot, I want everybody to yell, "Graphic Designer down!"
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