Officer's gun discharges in School Highland NY. Ulster County

[apoallo]

I read this in the local newspaper. link below to the article.  thanks god noone was injured.

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130306/NEWS/303060337&cid=sitesearch

[apoallo]

funny how kids and others are questioning why the officers gun was not on safety and why it was loaded.. Think people of course a cops gun is gonna be loaded at all times. it is suppose to be while on duty. Just shows how little people educated about firearms yet still feel they show question the topic as if they know

[Doc]

I have always maintained that armed school guards should have a standardized training program so that people of that position know all aspects of gun safety, and how to handle likely scenarios that could happen in a school setting, and the unique methods that school grounds might require (armed reactions as well as hand-to-hand reactions). It is not a position for the local Barney Fife type to be holding. And when an incident such as this occurs, it should be a case of no second chances, and that should be understood at the time of hiring. This is a responsible position that should have corresponding compensation, and training that reflects the seriousness of their responsibilities.

[apoallo]

I have always maintained that armed school guards should have a standardized training program so that people of that position know all aspects of gun safety, and how to handle likely scenarios that could happen in a school setting, and the unique methods that school grounds might require (armed reactions as well as hand-to-hand reactions). It is not a position for the local Barney Fife type to be holding. And when an incident such as this occurs, it should be a case of no second chances, and that should be understood at the time of hiring. This is a responsible position that should have corresponding compensation, and training that reflects the seriousness of their responsibilities.

I think that was very well said

[nyantler]

I have always maintained that armed school guards should have a standardized training program so that people of that position know all aspects of gun safety, and how to handle likely scenarios that could happen in a school setting, and the unique methods that school grounds might require (armed reactions as well as hand-to-hand reactions). It is not a position for the local Barney Fife type to be holding. And when an incident such as this occurs, it should be a case of no second chances, and that should be understood at the time of hiring. This is a responsible position that should have corresponding compensation, and training that reflects the seriousness of their responsibilities.

Yeah it seems like these jobs never go to the Andy's of the dept. but rather the Barney's... almost like it is viewed as a demotion or punishment.

[Doc]

Sure enough, I would imagine that keeping the peace in a school would require far more skills than just knowing how to shoot. For one thing, a guy would have to know how to handle himself in unarmed confrontations also where hand-to hand confrontations might be the required method against some 230 pound football player. He would have to know how to talk down potential violent situations, he would have to expert at not making "friendly-fire" kinds of errors in an armed incursion. He might even have some alternative peace-keeping duties that require mediation to keep or restore order in other emergencies such as fire situations. Procedures and protocols would have to be 2nd nature for him. And, as a last resort he would have to know his way around armed confrontations, particularly where several intruders are coming in at once. I don't see it as being an easy job, and I don't see any reason why the training for that job should not be specialized and unique and vigorous.

 

But I agree, it seems as though most folks look at security jobs as being a half a step higher than the custodian. That's too bad that they don't treat the job with the skills-package and expectations that it should require. And that is why you get these kinds of incidents such as accidental gun discharges. You get what you pay for.

[ants]

Yeah it seems like these jobs never go to the Andy's of the dept. but rather the Barney's... almost like it is viewed as a demotion or punishment.

 

How do you know that??

[WNY_Whitetailer]

I woulda like to know more about how the gun discharged. Did the SRO remove the gun from its holster? Was it truly a gun malfunction?

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[Dinsdale]

I woulda like to know more about how the gun discharged. Did the SRO remove the gun from its holster? Was it truly a gun malfunction?

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"Police Chief Daniel Waage said on Friday that an investigation of the incident indicated Officer Sean McCutcheon was on duty at the school when he had “a lapse in judgment, unsecured his .45 caliber Glock duty weapon and in doing so inadvertently discharged one round from his weapon into the floor.”

The investigation into the incident determined it was the result of “officer error and ruled unintentional.” The chief said McCutcheon had a habit of unsecuring his weapon from its holster and sliding it up and down and in doing so, the gun went off."

 

 

From;

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2013/March/16/HHS_SRO_resign-16Mar13.html

[nyantler]

How do you know that??

That has been my observation...

[apoallo]

"Police Chief Daniel Waage said on Friday that an investigation of the incident indicated Officer Sean McCutcheon was on duty at the school when he had “a lapse in judgment, unsecured his .45 caliber Glock duty weapon and in doing so inadvertently discharged one round from his weapon into the floor.”

The investigation into the incident determined it was the result of “officer error and ruled unintentional.” The chief said McCutcheon had a habit of unsecuring his weapon from its holster and sliding it up and down and in doing so, the gun went off."

 

 

From;

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2013/March/16/HHS_SRO_resign-16Mar13.html

was just gonna post the link to this. I seen the update today. The article also stated that the officer resigned....

[apoallo]

sounds like he was very board. however no excuse for unhooking the gun from the holster and sliding it up and down. I have a CCP and when I carry in public I never touch the firearm. I dont wanna draw any attention to the area where it is.  I have a friend in NJ who is a town cop and their department tkaes rotations being at the schools in that area. He says its the worst assignment ever and extremely boring.