Gunshot in Prosecutor’s Office under investigation
The Honolulu prosecutor’s office has opened an administrative investigation after an investigator’s firearm accidentally discharged in the office early last week, a prosecutor’s office spokesman said on Wednesday.
A supervisor is investigating the incident, which happened in the Alii Place in downtown where the prosecutor’s office is located, said spokesman Dave Koga. No one was hurt.
Koga said the investigator, who has been with the department for at least two decades, is still carrying the department-issued Glock 9 mm handgun. The investigator’s police powers have not been restricted.
Sources said the investigator was cleaning the gun when it discharged, sending a bullet through two walls and into a piece of office equipment.
The Prosecutor’s office has 22 armed investigators with police powers. The investigators provide building security, issue warrants and subpoenas, and assist in department investigations.
25 responses to “Gunshot in Prosecutor’s Office under investigation”
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Perhaps it’s time to retire or fire this investigator. Would he still have his gun and police powers had someone been on the other side of the wall he shot through? Like the Major at HPD, they are treating him differently because he’s a law enforcement officer. It’s just not right ! Treat him as you would an armored car driver or other legally armed individual who discharged his weapon in an office setting. Reckless endangering sounds appropriate to me, whether accident or not, his judgement is compromised.
He could have killed someone, would they be taking the same actions in this case if he did? Of course not
Incompetence & Corruption run rampant in our state and city governments. Kaneshiro and Caldwell gotta go.
I like how they describe the incident as “the firearm accidentally discharged” — as if it’s the gun’s fault. They better tell that gun to stop discharging, or else!
Compromised judgement? Can you please explain. I can see careless, but judgement?
These so called investigations go nowhere. Take forever and then thrown in the wastebasket.
It’s well understood that Glocks are very unforgiving of careless handling. The very simple manual of arms Glocks are promoted for belies the fact that these pistols are not for the clumsy or absent minded. (For example, never ever attempt to catch a falling Glock you’ve lost control of. If a cartridge is in the chamber and you fumble your fingers through the trigger guard, it will likely go bang.) That said, my guess is that this hapless investigator simply pulled the trigger when he shouldn’t have. And like NYPD officer Peter Liang learned, claiming the “safe action” trigger malfunctioned probably wouldn’t convince many knowledgeable people.
Same thing when you drop a knife… get out of the way, don’t try to catch it.
Cleaning a loaded gun? I wonder if he looked into the barrel to see if it was dirty first?
Exactly what I was thinking.
The fact that someone with over 20 years of firearms experience claims he was cleaning a *loaded* gun means he’s either lying about what happened (and should be fired for that), or he’s become totally incompetent (and should be fired for that). Either way, fire the guy.
Very irresponsible and his weapon should be taken away. 1) Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. 2) Always assume a firearm is loaded. 3) Keep finger off the trigger. 4) When cleaning, first put the weapon on safe. 5) Eject the magazine. 6) Pull back slide to ensure there isn’t a round in the chamber. If someone can’t follow these simple rules, they do not deserve to carry a firearm.
agree
Glocks don’t have a traditional manually activated “safety.” They utilize three “passive” safety devices. The trigger and the integrated safety lever must both be depressed rearwards. Glocks also have an integrated device to prevent discharge when dropped. The only practical way to discharge a Glock is to pull the trigger.
Doesn’t matter how long or rank but why is this person cleaning his weapon in the office?? He should be terminated. Cleaning a weapon is done with extreme cautions with safety the main objective(weapon should be double checked being sure there isn’t a chance there is ammo in it) and being an experience officer(two decades) this should never hav happened. Termination is mandatory.
Personally, I don’t have issues with someone cleaning his weapon in his own office (or an office in a church, hospital or school for that matter) as long as it’s done safely and won’t cause a stampede where it’s done. As for an appropriate punishment? Maybe after intensive retraining on gun safety, have the investigator transition back to a .38 Smith & Wesson Military and Police revolver. For what he probably has to do on a day-to-day basis, six shots is more than enough. As a bonus, he won’t have to worry himself over technical matters like whether a chamber or magazine is loaded or not.
Cleaning a loaded weapon? In the office? He/she needs to have that weapon removed. If that investigator doesn’t have the brains to check and clear a weapon prior to cleaning, does that investigator have the brains to “…investigators provide building security, issue warrants and subpoenas, and assist in department investigations.”
This individual should not be allowed to carry or own a weapon. An innocent fellow employee could’ve been shot and killed. Is the HPD investigating?
HPD investigate?? LOL!!! That’s rich!!
Discharging any firearm on State Property is a felony. Follow it up, Prosecutor’s Office. Oh, no one filed a police report. Never mind. Chapter 134.
I’d like to know if he was really just cleaning his weapon. That’s the story coming out of their office, but how about an independent investigation to make sure it was what they’re saying. Maybe this is a case of office politics run amok or “my pistol is bigger than yours” kind of thing.
He was cleaning his firearm with a round in the chamber????? He should be doing some days just for that stupidity. Drop the mag, clear the chamber, lock the slide back, then double check the whole thing. So much for that “trained” professional thing.
Cardinal rule violated when cleaning gun. Before proceeding with cleaning, remove all bullets from gun, most importantly the chamber. Never point a gun at anyone unless it is necessary to protect live or limb. Gun cleaning should be accomplished in a safe and secure area, preferably away from a public area. Overage in position, reassignment or retirement is in order.
sounds fishy….cleaning a weapon in the office….I smell coverup
Watch any action movie and even actors are trained in proper firearms handling – and that’s just to handle a weapon firing blanks. Not sure what this guy’s excuse is.
Hate to say this but this happens all the time across this country, in police stations, on ranges, at home, offices, government buildings by anybody carrying a gun. It is careless. Yup, the guy was dumb but he will not be fired. Maybe retrained. Expect more as guys get older , lazy, and not confident when handling semi-autos. For
A while securitas guys were shooting into a sand bucket at thre airport to see if there was a round in the chamber. Lots of retirees of the revolver time did not know how to handle s semi-auto. Kind of funny actually. Now they runaround with no round in the chamber.
Maybe these people SHOULD. NOT. BE. ARMED.