Florida Highway Patrol Commander Shoots Self in Foot at Firing Range

Herald Tribune ^ | 11/19/02 | Kelly Cramer

[templar]

The thing I thought was weird is how the cop seemed to have no idea how to unload it or even handle it as though he was familiar with a pump shotgun. Not much of a weapons expert from my perspective.

I shoot at a private range where a lot of local cops also shoot. I've learned to respect the SWAT guys, they always know what they and their weapons are doing. OTOH, when the rank and file show up to practice for their annual qualifications, I've found it a good idea to just come back later. Talk about bad shots and lousy range awareness.

[templar]

he's gonna get a medal for his "I Love Me" wall.

And another cop is shot in the line of duty by a gun.

[rockfish59]

My toes are safe!

[yarddog]

The poor fellow might as well just retire.

He will be the butt of jokes as long as he serves. Of course there is no excuse for having an accident like that. I say give him a little slack tho. What he did was stupid but most everyone occassionally does something really stupid.

[blau993]

He's never fired his weapon at anyone

Well, that just changed, didn't it.

[cmsgop]

Great Story. Some Live For Firearms Training, Some Avoid it at all costs. If You Poke Around you will see who is who..... It's one of those Misconseptions by the public that think all Cops are "Gun Gods" To alot of them it's $50,000 a year 9 to 5 thats it. Overtime forget it , Murder Investigation, That Overtime.....Im Calling in Sick The Next Day To Show Those Bastards,......Ask Around......

[wardaddy]

"I Love Me Wall"...lol

[Deguello]

"The bullet lodged in the sole of his sneaker."

Poor penetration, he needs a bigger class of firearm.

[SSN558]

Just when they come up with an idiot proof gun, along comes another idiot.

One should never under estimate idiots. They are so much smarter than all the rest of us.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

That Glock Safe Action is a real bitch when you never train with your weapon.

Why do I get the feeling this guy doesn't ever even take his weapon out of the holster when he goes home? He probably just pulls the whole belt and rig off and just hangs it on the back of a chair.

I wonder which one of his staff members cleans his weapon for him? Maybe they just swap pistols once a month and take the dirty one down to the armory?

[spectre]

WRONG!

Barney never shot himself in the foot!

[Travis McGee]

$10 says the rounds in his mag were green with age.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I guess it is possible he never fit his holster properly to the the weapon or he snagged a shirt tail on the way down. I hate to say it but they covered this heavily at the Front Sight Training Institute Defensive Handgun Course; present your weapon rapidly, holster slowly. Or as they put it nobody ever won a gun fight by holstering their weapon the fastest. Their reasoning was you could snag a shirt tail and when the weapon is thrust into the holster there is a chance that the trigger could be pulled by the material that is trapped in the trigger guard.

Best 2 days I ever spent with my pistol.

[justlurking]

He probably caught the trigger while holstering it.

Or he had his finger in the trigger guard.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

And another cop is shot in the line of duty by a gun.

Did they Xray his foot so they could add the data to the Ballistic Fingerprint Database for future reference?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Poor penetration, he needs a bigger class of firearm.

The round was stopped from exiting his foot by the floor he was standing on. Every range I've been to, except for shooting in the hills, had a concrete floor and I think that might stop the round cold.

[Deguello]

"He's never fired his weapon at anyone"

"A man has got to know his limitations"...Dirty Harry

[Grampa Dave]

Enjoy your early retirement, Capt. Van Fussell!

[Dog Gone]

Fussell shot himself before finishing the qualification exam, so he will have to retake it.

On the other hand (or foot), don't bother.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Fussell has passed every weapons qualification examination since he became a trooper.

Except maybe for the one that states, "Keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to fire."