MassCops - Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network, A Mass Police Web Portal

Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network

Massachusetts Police News, Information and Discussions on MassCops

Pages: 1

Main Page Police accidential discharges (Merged Threads)
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: kwflatbed

By Brian Fraga
Standard-Times staff writer
May 14, 2008 6:00 AM

NEW BEDFORD — A police recruit accidentally shot himself Monday during live-fire training at the New Bedford Police Department's shooting range on Woodcock Road in North Dartmouth.
The student officer from the Marshfield Police Department was placing his department-issued firearm in his holster when the weapon accidentally discharged, said Terrel Harris, a spokesman for the state Executive Office of Public Safety.
The bullet entered the recruit's upper thigh and lodged in his lower leg, officials said.
The recruit was taken by ambulance to St. Luke's Hospital, where he was admitted overnight. Mr. Harris said the recruit's injuries were not life-threatening.
The student officer was undergoing night fire training at the range, which is run by the New Bedford Police Department. The recruit was a student in the Plymouth Regional Police Academy, Mr. Harris said.
The accident occurred just after 4 p.m., Mr. Harris said.
He said the student officer's firearm will be inspected by the Marshfield Police Department armorer to determine whether it has mechanical faults

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...NEWS/805140365

Posted by: Sniper

It must have "just gone off"............... LOL

Posted by: frank

Lethal Weapon in the locker room, anyone?

Hope everything turns out okay and there are no long term injuries.

Posted by: OCKS

That's a crummy way to start a career. Hope he is alright and doesn't take to much flack.

Posted by: Q5-TPR

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCKS

That's a crummy way to start a career. Hope he is alright and doesn't take to much flack.

Oh yeah, RIGHT. He gonna get his balls busted for the rest of his career! You know how cops are!

Posted by: midwatch

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCKS

That's a crummy way to start a career. Hope he is alright and doesn't take to much flack.

LOL, yeah right. I know guys still taking shit for past cruiser accidents, never mind if you accidentally shoot yourself.

But I do hope he is going to be ok.

Posted by: Nuke_TRT

Something similar happened here, he is no longer employed though, thankfully.

Hope he is all right and recovers soon.

Posted by: Mitpo62

Mota must have been beside himself!

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by midwatch

LOL, yeah right. I know guys still taking shit for past cruiser accidents, never mind if you accidentally shoot yourself.

Nothing accidental about it; the weapon wouldn't have fired if the trigger wasn't squeezed.

Posted by: Hb13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

Nothing accidental about it; the weapon wouldn't have fired if the trigger wasn't squeezed.

My thoughts exactly.

Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:

Nothing accidental about it; the weapon wouldn't have fired if the trigger wasn't squeezed.

Amen! Keep your goddamned finger off the trigger until you are on target and prepared to fire!

Posted by: Tuna

We've had a few accidential discharges at the range over the years. One 12ga. went into the ground 6" from my left foot. I wasn't pleased and the shooter for other reasons is no longer on the job. I happens.

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank

Lethal Weapon in the locker room, anyone?

not exactly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

Amen! Keep your goddamned finger off the trigger until you are on target and prepared to fire!

The problem is that most holsters are designed for a gun, not a finger and a gun. Especially a garbage gun.

Posted by: robodope

One thing I guess we all learn over time is that accidents happen in this line of work. Most of of us are hurt by accidents more then anything. These incidents are always a reminder to be careful in everything you do. Someone who is making fun of this kid can be the next one going to a call and get into a wreck hurting someone. It is part of the job. That being said I hope he is ok, is able to put it behind him and have a good career. Stay safe all!!!

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by robodope

One thing I guess we all learn over time is that accidents happen in this line of work. Most of of us are hurt by accidents more then anything. These incidents are always a reminder to be careful in everything you do. Someone who is making fun of this kid can be the next one going to a call and get into a wreck hurting someone. It is part of the job. That being said I hope he is ok, is able to put it behind him and have a good career. Stay safe all!!!

Ya OK!

We are not talking about a cop here with 10 years on the job. We are talking about a recruit who can't holster a gun without shooting himself.

Major difference.

Posted by: robodope

Why 94C are you saying this accident can't happen to a 10 year vet? It has happened to firearms instructors and swat members alike..My point is anything can happen at anytime..Being a 10 year vet doesn't make you immune to an accident..Hopefully you don't get a reminder...

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by robodope

Why 94C are you saying this accident can't happen to a 10 year vet? It has happened to firearms instructors and swat members alike..My point is anything can happen at anytime..Being a 10 year vet doesn't make you immune to an accident..Hopefully you don't get a reminder...

Not saying it can't happen to a 10 year vet.

But the ten year vet has a major advantage over the guy who shoots himself in the academy.

He may be the greatest guy in the world but, he just made a major screw up and has a long way to go to correct it.

Just my opinion.

Posted by: robodope

Well 94C I think no one knows that more then him. I'm wishing him well and hoping he has a good career. My point is anything can happen whether your a 10 year vet or a recruit in the Academy. Sure experience lessens the odds of incidents happening but my point is it doesn't make you immune, so don't crucify the kid.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by robodope

Unless the firearm was defective, it wasn't an accident. He made a mistake, and learned a valuable lesson the hard way.

As I mentioned in another thread, I've been carrying loaded firearms going on 25 years, and have never had an unintentional discharge. I've been driving police cars for 20 years, and have never been behind the wheel when one got wrecked. Never wrecking a police car has an element of luck to it, as you can always get rear-ended or have a drunk cross the center line and hit you.

Never having an unintentional discharge is the result of good training (starting with my father when I was 8 years old) and staying alert. Quite simply, this recruit fucked up. Hopefully he has no lasting disability and goes on to have a long & productive career, but to suggest it was an accident just excuses a mistake on his part, IMO.

Posted by: GD

[quote=robodope;288030} My point is anything can happen whether your a 10 year vet or a recruit in the Academy. Sure experience lessens the odds of incidents happening but my point is it doesn't make you immune, so don't crucify the kid.[/quote]

Please breath easy and ...........relax!!!

Things happen, just glad he didn't seriously hurt himself.

Posted by: robodope

I am relaxed...lol..I'm not saying he didn't mess up..I will clairify my post by saying yes he made a mistake which do happen...Delta I'm glad you have been lucky..I hope it continues long into your career and afterwards..I'm saying these things do happen and was wishing him a speedy recovery and good career. I'm not saying anything different then you GD..

Posted by: Killjoy

Unfortunately, I have to throw some blame on the firearms instructors for not adequately supervising their recruits. As an instructor, one has to assume that a recruit has exactly 0% knowledge and work your way up from there. Night or low-light live fire exercises are the most difficult and dangerous to supervise and require a training cadre who are highly experienced. Most low-light/no light exercises are best run one student at at time with a 1-1 student/instructor ratio.

Of course, most of the blame falls on the student for probably not doing what he was instructed to.

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

Unfortunately, I have to throw some blame on the firearms instructors for not adequately supervising their recruits. As an instructor, one has to assume that a recruit has exactly 0% knowledge and work your way up from there. Night or low-light live fire exercises are the most difficult and dangerous to supervise and require a training cadre who are highly experienced. Most low-light/no light exercises are best run one student at at time with a 1-1 student/instructor ratio.

Of course, most of the blame falls on the student for probably not doing what he was instructed to.

How about a 1 student to 3 instructor ratio?

You can't blame the instructors unless it was their responsibility to holster the gun for him.

Posted by: Grasshopper

Everyone makes mistakes... especially during academy training! Now this poor guy, I'm sure is never going to live this one down.

Posted by: tacpup82

Maybe this guy should get with the Nuke planters and form a shooting team... they'd be great.. probably never miss.

Posted by: Loyal

No one is perfect. Accidents happen. This person was not the first and will not be the last. Hopefully his job realizes that reality and keeps him on the force. I assume he has been screened carefully, so he deserves a second chance. It's not like he was waving the gun around and endangering others...it must have snagged the holster while his finger was too close to the trigger... he learned from it and others will too, from his inexperience.

Posted by: Redleg13D

On one hand, a negligent discharge is a serious screw up and could result in uncessarily harming or killing someone.

On the other hand, even the most squared away person makes mistakes. (better he do this on the range in the academy, than on the street)... Hell, I once saw a full bird put a 9mm round into a clearing barrell in Iraq.

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loyal

Hopefully his job realizes that reality and keeps him on the force.

It looks like they will...

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by robodope

Well 94C I think no one knows that more then him. I'm wishing him well and hoping he has a good career. My point is anything can happen whether your a 10 year vet or a recruit in the Academy. Sure experience lessens the odds of incidents happening but my point is it doesn't make you immune, so don't crucify the kid.

I wasn't crucifying the kid, just disagreeing that it was "part of the job".

From all accounts he is a squared away kind of guy and does deserve some credit for finishing the academy, especially EVOC, with a bullet still in his leg.

That's all...

Posted by: REILEYDOG

Firearms instructor's weapon discharges during safety training

By Brian Fraga
Standard-Times staff writer
May 20, 2008 6:00 AM
Do as I say, not as I do.
That could be the lesson from Maj. Donald Lamar, a firearms instructor for the Bristol County Sheriff's Department, who was teaching a class on weapons safety last week when he accidentally fired the weapon while placing it into his holster. The bullet ripped through Maj. Lamar's pants leg and lodged in the floor, but amazingly missed his leg and foot.

Just days earlier, a Marshfield police recruit accidentally shot himself in the leg while attempting to holster his weapon during a training session at the New Bedford Police Department's shooting range in Dartmouth. That bullet entered the recruit's upper thigh and lodged in his lower leg, but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Maj. Lamar made reference to the Dartmouth accident in a demonstration to deputy sheriffs last Wednesday. He held his Glock handgun, showed his students how to put it away, then slid the weapon into his holster — his finger still on the trigger.
BANG!
The weapon discharged, startling the classroom, said Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson.
Maj. Lamar, a certified firearms instructor since 2005, had shown a "gross error in judgment" in not checking to make sure his pistol was empty, Sheriff Hodgson said.
"He didn't clear his weapon before he went in the classroom, which is something he did every day," Sheriff Hodgson said. "In fact, he would often show students while in class that his weapon was clear.
"Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but it was certainly an embarrassment," the sheriff said. "It's a stark reminder that rules have to be followed when handling a weapon."
Sheriff Hodgson said an internal affairs investigation will determine how Maj. Lamar deviated from his normal training procedures.
"I can't surmise what happened for him not to have cleared his weapon. Maybe he might not have been thinking about it, had something else on his mind and didn't realize the weapon was loaded.
"He feels very embarrassed about it."
Sheriff Hodgson said, Maj. Lamar has been transferred to the department's traffic division pending the outcome of the investigation.
He is not carrying a firearm.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...NEWS/805200357

Posted by: Hb13

Quote:

Originally Posted by REILEYDOG

his finger still on the trigger.

Posted by: 7costanza

Two individuals in different situations, ones lack of training and the other is complacency...both equal a bad day....

Posted by: Inspector

"Sheriff Hodgson said, Maj. Lamar has been transferred to the department's traffic division pending the outcome of the investigation.
He is not carrying a firearm."

And exactly how does one do a vehicle today stop without a firearm?

Posted by: misconceived

Question:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspector

And exactly how does one do a vehicle today stop without a firearm?

Answer:

Quote:

Originally Posted by REILEYDOG

Bristol County Sheriff's Department,

Posted by: bbelichick

Quote:

Originally Posted by REILEYDOG

Maj. Lamar has been transferred to the department's traffic division pending the outcome of the investigation.
He is not carrying a firearm.

Why the hell would a Sheriff's Dept need a "Traffic Division"?

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbelichick

Why the hell would a Sheriff's Dept need a "Traffic Division"?

To steal federal traffic enforcement grant money from police departments.

Posted by: 94c

This wouldn't happen to be the "Boom-Boom" Lamar of MSP fame?

Would it?

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by REILEYDOG

Sheriff Hodgson said, Maj. Lamar has been transferred to the department's traffic division pending the outcome of the investigation.
He is not carrying a firearm.

And he's not carrying a citation book.

The Three Stooges were never this comical...

Posted by: Archangel

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...NEWS/805200357

Firearms instructor's weapon discharges during safety training

May 20, 2008 6:00 AM
Do as I say, not as I do.
That could be the lesson from Maj. Donald Lamar, a firearms instructor for the Bristol County Sheriff's Department, who was teaching a class on weapons safety last week when he accidentally fired the weapon while placing it into his holster. The bullet ripped through Maj. Lamar's pants leg and lodged in the floor, but amazingly missed his leg and foot.
Just days earlier, a Marshfield police recruit accidentally shot himself in the leg while attempting to holster his weapon during a training session at the New Bedford Police Department's shooting range in Dartmouth. That bullet entered the recruit's upper thigh and lodged in his lower leg, but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Maj. Lamar made reference to the Dartmouth accident in a demonstration to deputy sheriffs last Wednesday. He held his Glock handgun, showed his students how to put it away, then slid the weapon into his holster — his finger still on the trigger.
BANG!
The weapon discharged, startling the classroom, said Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson.
Maj. Lamar, a certified firearms instructor since 2005, had shown a "gross error in judgment" in not checking to make sure his pistol was empty, Sheriff Hodgson said.
"He didn't clear his weapon before he went in the classroom, which is something he did every day," Sheriff Hodgson said. "In fact, he would often show students while in class that his weapon was clear.
"Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but it was certainly an embarrassment," the sheriff said. "It's a stark reminder that rules have to be followed when handling a weapon."
Sheriff Hodgson said an internal affairs investigation will determine how Maj. Lamar deviated from his normal training procedures.
"I can't surmise what happened for him not to have cleared his weapon. Maybe he might not have been thinking about it, had something else on his mind and didn't realize the weapon was loaded.
"He feels very embarrassed about it."
Sheriff Hodgson said, Maj. Lamar has been transferred to the department's traffic division pending the outcome of the investigation.
He is not carrying a firearm.
Contact Brian Fraga at bfraga@s-t.com

Posted by: co2

A car salesman teaching firearms class. Dont worry he started out as homeland security.

Posted by: BPD3352

Sheriff Hodgson said, Maj. Lamar has been transferred to the department's traffic division pending the outcome of the investigation.
He is not carrying a firearm.

What exactly does the sheriffs traffic division do? Its sure as hell not MV stops! Oh I know... It must be slowing the walkers down in the park

Posted by: BPD3352

NBPD now has to worry about these asshats running around the city with their whistle playing hall monitor?? One of these guys is going to get killed. If not shot, run over by a NB cruiser.

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPD3352

NBPD now has to worry about these asshats running around the city with their whistle playing hall monitor?? One of these guys is going to get killed. If not shot, run over by a NB cruiser.

Careful now, you have people out there like HousingCop who thinks if you buy your way into a uniform your're worthy of respect if you're getting your ass kicked while playing cop.

Posted by: j809

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94c

This wouldn't happen to be the "Boom-Boom" Lamar of MSP fame?

Would it?

You're thinking of Dave Lamar maybe, he is a squared away dude, last i heard he was with the airwing.

Posted by: HousingCop

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94c

Careful now, you have people out there like HousingCop who thinks if you buy your way into a uniform your're worthy of respect if you're getting your ass kicked while playing cop.

94C,
Pretty good high grade stuff you're smoking there buddy, since I haven't even posted in this thread..... until now. Show me on ANY of my posts where I said it's OK to buy yourself a badge & go on patrol?

I just liked to point out what a piece of shit you were in a previous post for saying you'd drive by a deputy at the side of the road who's getting his head kicked in. As a member of law enforcement, you should STILL be ashamed of that comment.

Maybe the deputy is transporting someone in his or her van or car and they have to open up the door to take down an unruly prisoner and gets jumped by a gang of violent felons they are transporting coming to or going to court. Again, you're a fucking TOOL for saying you wouldn't help out a fellow LE officer or even the Sears security guard. You're as bad as Ted Kennedy if you let somebody get killed and stand by and do NOTHING. F-you, you bag of shit. I used to get alot of amusement from reading your posts but you personally make me want to puke.

Posted by: Barbrady

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitpo62

Mota must have been beside himself!

Mota, is that really his name? An officer? Is he a narc?

I guess I am easily amused.

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by HousingCop

94C,
F-you, you bag of shit. I used to get alot of amusement from reading your posts but you personally make me want to puke.

Then go right ahead and puke. Hopefully you'll die choking on your own vomit.

Regards...

ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops

About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.

The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.

The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.

The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.

The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.

MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)

3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 49 50 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108