Gunshot drama at police gym

Seb Ramsay

December 02, 2005

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A SENIOR police officer fired a gun by accident in a gym changing room.

The weapon went off as it was being reloaded in a locker room in Collyhurst Police Station on Rochdale Road.

The bullet went through a mirror and ended up embedded in a wall.

It is understood that other people were using the changing room at the time, but Greater Manchester Police claim that no one was near enough to be harmed. The police officer, an inspector who is a firearms expert, is understood to have moved to a quiet area of the locker room and was trying to reload the gun after having disarmed it earlier.

An investigation has been launched and the officer has had his firearms authority revoked.

GMP have confirmed that it is their policy for officers to disarm guns while in their buildings and re-arm them when they leave.

Protocols

The force's internal affairs department is investigating exactly how the officer, a member of the Tactical Firearms Unit, managed to fire the gun and what, if any, protocols were broken.

A spokesman for GMP said: "In the early hours of Monday a GMP authorised firearms officer unintentionally discharged a firearm inside a police building in the north Manchester area.

"No members of the public or any other people were placed in any danger and there were no injuries. However, the force has launched a full and urgent investigation into the circumstances of this incident."

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In Green, Sennybridge (02/12/2005 at 08:40)

A firearm went off by accident? In a building? Shocking! What was a loaded weapon doing in a building? Dangerous and irresponsible. I am a serving Warrent Officer and an instructor in the Army, one of the first rules of saftey is ensuring all weapons are safely unloaded before entering a building! God help the general public if the arm officers and they dont practice care like this individual. he should be tied to a desk job where he can do no harm. Next time this kind a practice could lead to a serious injury or death!

Wyatt Earp, Didsbury (02/12/2005 at 10:17)

The officer concerned should be disciplined - carelessness like this could have cost someone their life.

But full marks to GMP for their transparency. An incident like this could quite easily have been brushed under the carpet. The fact we are reading about it in this manner indicates a desire for public accountability.

The Bad Guy, Allaround U (02/12/2005 at 13:13)

Now you can see why we want all police armed!

R., Salford (02/12/2005 at 14:15)

Well, is this a case of familiarity bringing on sloppy drills. How in heavens name did this former firearms expert manage to put a bullet through a mirror? They are not exactly low down! As the Y Department are heard to say " You are the weakest link....etc" Lets face it, no firearm can ever go off accidently, only if some plonker presses that thing called a trigger.

government scapegoat, manchester (02/12/2005 at 15:16)

if that was a member of the public being so incompetent with a handgun, there would be a public outcry and the govt would ban them...oops, i forgot. the public would not have a handgun, as this govt told us all there would be guns on the streets after 1998 handgun ban. maybe they should give the 55,000 law abiding certificate holders their handguns back to practice their lawful sport, and stop arming the kevlar cowboys!!

Mirror Repairer, Under the table (02/12/2005 at 15:20)

At least we can be sure that this bobbie didn't,
have a workout, get dressed, pull his firearm out, point it at the mirror in full Arnie pose, and pull the trigger then?

doh,

Keepin' me 'ead down!, Sussex (02/12/2005 at 15:53)

If the officer is an 'expert' in firearms, I dread to think what the rookies are like.

moneypenny, deansgate (02/12/2005 at 16:41)

shocking. just shocking.

going off by accident? in a gym? in front of a mirror?
does this not sound suspect to anyone?

obviously alone with a firearm, are we sure if he was in a state of undress or was he complete with dinner suit, giving it the full james bond number?

the mind boggles.

C, Manchester (02/12/2005 at 17:03)

I'll be honest. I feel sympathy for the inspector. I am not attempting to make excuses for carelessness; but even experts make a mistake from time to time. Maybe we should just concentrate that thank god, nobody has been injured. They arn't superhumans.

Ex Collyhurst bobby, manchetser (02/12/2005 at 18:47)

As an ex serving Police officer at Collyhurst Police Station for many years i would like tyo ask the question "where is the gym changing area" There is no such thing at this station, the locker room is on the ground floor and the gym is on the third floor.
Officers use the locker room for storing their equipment and clothing and no firearms officers are based at Collyhurst, they are all based at Openshaw. This goon of a so called inspector would not even have a locker at Collyhurst so therefore would have no reason to be in there, never mind with a loaded firearm.
Get him back on the area patrols where everyone will be safe, he could have seriously injured or killed an officer and should never be allowed near a firearm again!!!

Soldier, Manchester (02/12/2005 at 22:32)

The MOD have ND's everyday, how many do the cops have ? 1 a year?
You lot are quick on the bandwagon, were you as quick to praise the police for solving the murder of the black lad in Liverpool?? No! didnt think so at least these people are brave enough to face thugs head on not winge and moan at an easy mistake!!!

Robotcop, LA (03/12/2005 at 14:40)

Hehehehehe...You gotta laugh! Imagine the scenario when the british police are armed? Whatr a farce!

government scapegoat, manchester (04/12/2005 at 12:22)

soldier,
the MOD dont have loads of ND's, they have loads of AD's. big difference, which if you were a soldier, you would know. and the police have one ND a year do they? they have more than that on the queens train! get your facts right. did the police who solved the cloured lads murder, solve it whilst armed? no thought not. disarm the police and let them solve crimes, not cause them. this bobbie should go.

ernie jones, bolton (06/12/2005 at 12:42)

If the man is a so called firearms expert, people I know who use guns for sport must be Einsteins then, because to do as the copper did requires the brain of a gibbon

the ringo kid, dodge city (06/12/2005 at 18:34)

i think we now know why the bobbies cant be armed, also who was watching over his LOADED gun whilst he was on the trampoline,was it locked in a secure safe, i think not,,,i beggar to ask is when he looked in the mirror did he sing IM THE KING OF THE COWBOYS and im riding high yip e aye ayeeeeeee

common sense with firearms, Burnley (08/12/2005 at 10:38)

Taking account of the fact that neither a revolver (the ones with cylindrical chambers) nor a pistol (the ones with a magazine in the grip) can be discharged while loading, (in the case of a revolver the chambers are swung out of the body of the weapon and cannot be fired, in the case of a pistol the rounds are in the magazine, which is detached from the body of the weapon) what on earth can this officer have been doing to discharge this weapon by accident? The fact is that the only way to discharge a pistol or revolver is to release the safety catch and pull the trigger!!

EEZ springs, SOUTH WEST (12/12/2005 at 23:22)

Nd's / Ad's they all mean the same, an error made!
Be it human or mechanical.
Those who make stupid comments in relation to this officers ability, i am sure have made a number of human errors before themselves. A gun is just a mechanical device, just like a car.
And let me tell you, a car is more a deadly weapon than any gun.
Those who have a realistic knowledge of firearms ( not just, i shot a gun once now i'm an expert ) would know that not all handguns have manual safety catches. such as the glock 17 used by police the world over including the uk.
Before you ridicule an experienced firearms officer. Purhaps you should find out what it takes to become an AFO and what it's like being in a real pressure job, where one day you are facing the end of a loaded gun and the next your facing a potential murder charge.
everyone makes mistakes.
even you !

realist, also under the table (02/01/2006 at 21:27)

""and what it's like being in a real pressure job, where one day you are facing the end of a loaded gun and the next your facing a potential murder charge."" I didnt realise that you could be had up for murder for shhoting a mirror!
Your right the glock17 doesnt have a mechanical safety, it has a much safer system. Seeing as this guy "accidently" loaded a magazine. "accidently" chambered a round, then "accidently" pulled the trigger (after dis-engaging the safety), he is still an idiot. If this was a civiillian or a member of the forces, he would be charged by now!
And for your info EEZ, there is a world of difference between an AD and a ND. "Accidental" and "Negligent" mean a whole lot. Especially in court!

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