Off duty cop leaves his gun in a Toys R Us restroom.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Ok, here come the anecdotes…

When I managed an indoor range/retail store we had this little incident: one of my regular employees goes on lunch break and hits the head before leaving the store. Not five minutes later a customer comes out of the john and comes up to me and says “uhm hey but you know what? There’s a Glock sitting on the toilet in the men’s john.â€

Oh really?

And yes indeed there is. Still in it’s paddle holster. And what do you know? I happen to recognize it. You want to guess? So I put the gear into my locker and waited to see what would happen. Another five minutes go by and here comes my employee racing back into the store with a very concerned look on his face. Doesn’t say a word but bee-lines it to the men’s room.

Two seconds later he sidles up to me and says “I think I ****** really bad†“oh? Why what ever could be wrong?â€

I let him dangle for a few more seconds and then told him where his firearms was and then asked him if he fully comprehended the gravity of the situation and when I was convinced that, yes he did realize that, and that he REALLY shouldn’t do that again, I told him that, hey? We all make mistakes, but some have the potential to be a lot worse than others. And I never mentioned it again.

 

[OEF_VET]

I won't divulge names in order to protect the identity of the individuals, but something similiar happened last summer at a local range.

We were having a THR TN Mafia Day-At-The-Range and one of the well-known members thought another member had secured his weapons in the 2nd members vehicle (point of fact, one of the two rifles actually belonged to a friend, not the member). However, the 2nd member figured the 1st member had grabbed the guns. Later, the range was empty except for myself and a non-THR shooter. The non-THR member and I were talking and shooting when he asked me if the AK sitting nearby was mine. It wasn't, but I knew instantly whose it was. Not soon after we realized the person had left a Mosin-Nagant behind as well. Luckily, I was still there and knew who had brought the guns with them, and was going to their house when I left the range. If I had left any earlier, two rifles would have been left at the range for anyone to pick up and take.

There's a lesson to be learned here. Never, ever, assume someoe else is looking after your firearms. Don't leave the range without verifying, by touch, that you have all of the guns you brought with you.

Frank

 

[BamBam-31]

Human error. Bound to happen. Doesn't change the severity of the mistake, however.

One of my BIL's works for Homeland Security. Left his USP at a restaurant. Got suspended several days w/o pay for that one.

Doh! :banghead:

 

[wintermute76]

Quote:
Originally Posted by wintermute76
a sign saying "possession of firearms is prohibited on these premises"



RE: Minnesota
Current (old) Minnesota law doesn't authorize signs except in special situations (not involving a store, restaurant or mall). Personal (oral) notice is required to trigger a duty to leave.

The new law (suspended during the court appeal) requires a sign as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the subsequent personal (oral) notice. The sign is required but ONLY a proper personal notice triggers a duty to leave.

Under neither law does an offense occur until a properly noticed person fails to depart the premises.

I know they sign doesn't mean anything legally, it's just the principle of it all. I won't go where I"m not wanted. I wonder if it's a corporate policy or what.

 

[wmenorr67]

But I thought that Waffle House did not allow CCW. How can anyone leave their gun in the john if they are not allowed in the building?

 

[Zach S]

None of the civilian incidents I can recall ever made the paper, but oh jolly let a cop leaves a piece laying about and CNN shows up enforce.

Yes well it shouldn't happen since the police have so much more training and responsability with their firearms than common folk

 

[CAS700850]

A female probation officer left her Smith 66 in the bathroom at the courthouse, and it was reported to a bailiff (my shooting buddy), who promptly recognized the gun (she was one of the last revolver carriers) and locked it in his evidence safe and called the head of Probation, who instructed him to leave it locked up and watch what happened. Half hour later, he watches her run down the hallway to the bathroom, then run back out frantic and scurry around for another fifteen minutes. Apparently, after checking her office and her car, she reported it to the Chief (a retired Navy Spec Warfare guy), who proceeded to let her know in no uncertain terms how she had screwed the pooch. The gun was returned, along with a three day suspension.

AS for questions about the legality of keepeing a found gun, here in Ohio you are much better off legally in turning it in and seeing if you can recover it later. When the owner reports it stolen, you will be charged with Receiving Stolen Property/Unauthorized Use of Property if and when you are found with it. As to whether you can recover it later, that will depend on the policy of the department.

My buddy in Arizona found a nciely customized Smith Model 15 in the desert. Turned it in to the Sheriff's Department, who held it for 30 days, ran the numbers, and then returned it to him when no owner could be located.

Sometimes, it pays to be honest.

 

[cxm]

More proof... only police should be allowed to have guns.

 

[Battlespace]

Didn't a female air marshal leave her gun in a restrooma couple of years ago? Seems I read soemthing about it somewhere.

 

[Zach S]

Didn't a female air marshal leave her gun in a restrooma couple of years ago? Seems I read soemthing about it somewhere.

I think it was a little more recent. I remember reading about it here.

 

[Master Blaster]

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/2988844/detail.html
Air marshall

 

[twency]

Apparently I'm too young to remember this, but according to my older brother, the local Chief of Police left his gunbelt (w/ service weapon) in the bathroom in the middle school in the town where I grew up, after giving a lecture on gun safety. A student found it and reported it to an adult at the school. I don't recall the incident, but I believe my brother.

-twency
________________
No one is listening until you make a mistake.

 

[Blueduck]

It's happned before, it'll happen again.

Know of one states Probation Department so worried about this that official policy is for officers to remove both gun in holster and belt en-mass while in bathroom and secure around neck while "taking care of business". I am not kidding! Told my boss at the time that I considered this state "forward thinking" and desired to use this same process, he rolled his eyes and told me to feel free.

Next day I reported back that I felt the plan had two weak points. First I stated I found the belt could be secured too tightly around my neck which caused choking and coughing fits, second I felt the other people standing at the urinals were looking at me funny....

 

[jsalcedo]

Once while carrying my sistema .45 on a comp-tec rig I visited the throne in a mexican resaurant. I thought the my belt would hold the gun & holster ok while my pants were down.

The gun flopped down and hit the floor kind of hardmaking a noise more embarassing than is usually heard in mexican restaurant bathrooms.

Nowadays I unhook my holster and place it in my underwear. There is no way to forget or lose control of your sidearm that way.

Of course if you pull up your pants with the gun stored in that manner you may get an unpleasant surprise.

 

[ceetee]

A couple of years ago..... (well, okay, a couple of decades...) I was taking a course or two at a local junior college where they also have a Law Enforcement Academy. Lots of cops go there for additional training.

Once, I walked into the restroom, to find a State Trooper in one of the stalls, while his entire gun belt, gun included, was hanging on the coat hook just inside the entrance. I did my business, then watched from outside to make sure that no one else came out with the Trooper's gear.

To this day, I doubt he knows that somebody had his back...