Austin police reviewing holsters after gun found in park
Officers who work with dogs ordered to stop using holsters.
By Tony Plohetski
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Austin police are reviewing the type of holsters dozens of officers carry and have already suspended their use in the department's canine unit after officials said an officer's gun slipped out and was later found in a Southwest Austin park teeming with children.
Assistant Police Chief Al Eells said Wednesday that a preliminary investigation shows that officer Daniel Eveleth, who was sitting on a playground slide, lost his loaded gun when a police dog lurched toward him at Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park on Slaughter Creek early Monday.
Eells and other department officials said Eveleth was wearing a special holster in which a gun rests between an officer's knee and hip and that the dog's paw might have knocked a leather strap covering the weapon out of place.
"Certainly we believe there may be an equipment issue here," Eells said.
Eells said the investigation will include why Eveleth did not know for several hours that his gun was missing. A group of mothers and about a dozen children found the weapon on the slide about 8:45 a.m. and called police, who returned it to Eveleth at his home.
Assistant Police Chief Sam Holt, who is in charge of the department this week while Chief Art Acevedo is attending a conference, also said Wednesday that officials are reviewing why top department leaders weren't told about what happened until a day later, when the Austin American-Statesman began inquiring about the incident.
It is the second time in recent weeks that top city officials weren't immediately notified of a high-profile incident. City Manager Marc Ott has said he didn't learn about last month's fire at the Texas Governor's Mansion until the next day. About 100 Austin firefighters battled the blaze, which nearly destroyed the empty building.
Eells said Eveleth was nearing the end of his eight-hour shift about 5:15 a.m. Monday when he took the dog to the park. He said the dog had been patrolling with the officer in his car and that Eveleth wanted to give it time to exercise.
He said that after several minutes, Eveleth loaded the dog into the car, went home and immediately fell asleep.
Eells said officers who responded to a 911 call from the park thought the gun looked similar to the type of weapon officers carry and asked department officials to check its serial number against those in a database.
He said Eveleth was "quite frankly shocked" when they returned his gun.
"He's very upset about it," Eells said. "He has expressed that. This is the type of situation that strikes fear in every officer's heart."
Officials said they were trying to determine Wednesday how many officers wear the "tactical thigh holsters" and will review whether they are appropriate for their assignments. They said officers in specialized units, including the SWAT team and bomb squad, often wear special bullet-proof vests that make wearing regular holsters that go around the waist uncomfortable.
They said seven officers who are assigned dogs have been ordered to immediately stop wearing the thigh holsters.
During a news conference, Eells, Holt and Assistant City Manager Bert Lumbreras each thanked parents at the park for keeping children away from the gun. They especially expressed gratitude to Danielle Pieranunzi, who called 911.
"She handled the situation very appropriately," Lumbreras said.
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Use of special holster suspended after APD gun found in park
08:25 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 9, 2008
By NOELLE NEWTON
KVUE News
One day after Austin police admitted an officer left his gun in a Southwest Austin park, police officials confirmed with KVUE News that the use of special holsters for working with police dogs has been suspended.
In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, police said they don't know whether the officer or the gun holster was to blame, but they aren't taking any chances.
Austin Police say Officer Daniel Eveleth, an 11-year veteran, somehow lost his loaded Glock gun at the popular and heavily-used Slaughter Creek Metropolitan Park early Monday morning. Eveleth was at the park early Monday training with the canine unit.
"It strikes fear in every officer's heart. Leaving a weapon unsecured like that in a place like that simply for all of us and we are human in this department is sickening and we obviously want to make sure this never happens again," said Assistant Chief Al Eells, Austin Police Department.
Fellow APD officers say Eveleth is sick with the guilt of leaving his loaded gun at this park playground.
"I can tell you, no one is more devastated than officer himself," Austin Police Association Vice-President Wuthipong Tantaksinanukj. "He's a great officer. He's highly thought of this is just an unfortunate accident."
Eveleth told Eells how he thinks it happened.
"Eveleth was nearing the end of his shift. He stopped at Slaughter Creek Park to give his K-9 rest and exercise," Eells explained.
Eveleth, sat down on a slide and his dog jumped on him. A parent found the gun on the slide three hours later.
Officers illustrated in a news conference earlier Wednesday why the dog's paw swipe could have been enough to cause the gun to slip out. K-9 officers like Eveleth use a special gun holster that wraps around their thigh. When sitting, the back of the gun could easily slip out if the strap is flipped up.
Police say a gun has never fallen out of a holster like this before. Nonetheless, the department is suspending use of the belt and holster.
"We are very concerned and will look at this very carefully," Eells said.
All thigh holsters have been pulled until further investigation. Eveleth's actions will also be investigated.
One thing officers do know is they are thankful no one got hurt.
"Thanks to the mom for calling 9-1-1," Bert Lumbreras, Assistant City Manager.
The SWAT team, the bomb squad and narcotics officers also use the same holster on occasion. Those tactical officers wear outer bullet proof vests. The thigh holster makes it easier for them to grab their gun in high intensity situations.
Eveleth's actions are being investigated. He remains on active duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
http://www.kvue.com/news/newton/stor....3bce83b5.html
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