Port Orange police officer who shot self

[Hazcat]

By LYDA LONGA
Staff Writer

A veteran Port Orange policeman in the training division who accidentally shot himself in the stomach after examining a firearm, had just finished loading the gun and was attempting to put it into a drawer when he was injured, an internal affairs report shows.

Now, Gerald Zito, a 14-year-veteran whose duties included training his colleagues on how to use various firearms, will be suspended without pay for a month and will go back on the street as a patrolman, said Assistant Police Chief Wayne Miller.

Initially, Zito, 58, told his supervisors that he was attempting to dismantle the .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol the morning of March 11. But after realizing he couldn’t take the firearm apart, Zito said he loaded it and was about to store it, when one of his fingers accidentally hit the trigger, he told internal affairs investigators.

Zito was going to test-fire the pistol at the firing range on March 12. He was thinking of buying the weapon from another officer, but wanted to shoot with it first, the investigation shows.

The bullet entered Zito’s abdomen, traveled downward and perforated the officer’s colon, the investigation says. The slug was not removed when Zito had surgery at Halifax Health Medical Center.

The investigation determined that Zito violated departmental policy for the use and handling of weapons; that was sustained by Police Chief Gerald Monahan, Miller said.

Zito could not be reached for comment Thursday.


http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/breakingnews/pocop042409.htm

[fightingquaker13]

Yikes! I get the point about needing to set an example, particulary with a firearms instructor. But this seems a bit severe. I mean I doubt there's anyone on this board who hasn't made a dumbass mistake with a weapon that didn't scare the crap out of us when we realized we'd done it, whether it was discovering the unloaded gun we were cleaning wasn't or realizing a failure to engage a safety or whatever. This doesn't excuse it and just because we got lucky doesn't mean others will. Still, you'd think the wound and suspension would be enough. The demotion seems like piling on.
FQ13

[Hazcat]

Lucky he still has a job.  I would have fired him on the spot!

[twyacht]

from article:

realizing he couldn’t take the firearm apart, Zito said he loaded it and was about to store it,

Uh, does anyone think this sounds like a really STUPID thing to do?

Lucky it wasn't a larger caliber. Lucky he still has his life to still be a patrolman (again).

[fightingquaker13]

Lucky he still has a job.  I would have fired him on the spot!

Maybe. But tell me you haven't f!#@d up once. Hell, look at Pincus' post about his friend. I get that there need to be consequences, it just seems that a months pay (plus loss of the instructer's position, except to be an object lesson) and surgery should do it. Let him who is without sin etc.....
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

I can say that I've personally never made a mistake. 

I've been around people that have broken MY rules and I don't associate with them anymore.  A firearm is ALWAYS loaded.....period!  When I've verified that it's empty, then its not.  If it's out of sight, even for a second, I check it again.  These rules of mine are not negotiable!

Thanks Pop!

Update:  My future SIL has already fallen out of my favor on this particular matter.

[fightingquaker13]

Look Timothy, I agree with you, I too learned from my Grandad, and Dad, that you always, check the action, even if you just checked it 10 minutes ago. My lesson came from A 20 year vet of the DC Police. I rented a room in his house in college. He was putting his glock back in the factory box, which requires you to pull the trigger to fit around the the post in the middle. It went bang because he didn't check the chamber. This wasn't a yahoo or a dumbass. He taught me whole lot about air rifles and combat hand guns. That said, the lesson that will ALWAYS stick with me, is the sound of that shot, the hole in the box (and wall), and the look on his face. I don't thnk he should have lost his job over it, but I can tell you that I never seen someone so pale in my life. I'm not defending the Pt. Orange guys actions, because they were damn stupid. I am just saying that having an accidental discharge (or just seeing one) is a lesson that never needs to be taught twice.
FQ13

[Timothy]

I wasn't arguing FQ.  There has to be more to this story than what the staff writer could tell in the short essay allowed by his editor.  As Tom stated, puting a loaded handgun into a drawer seems dangerous.  Was the drawer locker?  Was he in the middle of the precinct where even patrolman are not allowed to have a sidearm in their holster.  If someone is that unfamiliar with a particular handgun, the prudent thing to do is to leave it unloaded.  Preferably locked up with no access to unauthorized personel.

I've only had two experiences with the internal workings of a metro police deptartment.  One was for research on a high school paper and the other was an unfortunate visit to Georgia some years back.  Neither time was an officer allowed to carry his sidearm, he had it checked at a window by the Sgt on duty.  Only then was he allowed into the secured area of the station.

Have things changed?

[Hazcat]

There is also pointing a firearm you KNOW to be loaded at yourself!

The guy is a complete dipstick.

[Timothy]

There is also pointing a firearm you KNOW to be loaded at yourself!

The guy is a complete dipstick.

I agree!