mikeb3185
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just WOW is all that comes to mind at the moment. and im sure you all will have a field day quoting this article
Officer suspended after Cheektowaga gun-firing spree
Off-duty Buffalo Police Officer Dawn Lopez parked her car on the shoulder of the Thruway in Cheektowaga and fired her service handgun out the window early Wednesday, according to state police. Her passenger, Buffalo art teacher Megan Corcoran, also fired a shot from the 9mm Glock out the car window, state police said.
The two fired several bullets toward a grassy area backed by a fence, with a residential neighborhood about 75 to 100 yards away, state police said. No one was injured.
Troopers who arrested the pair were not able to determine the motive for the shooting. Both were charged with second-degree reckless endangerment - a misdemeanor.
Lopez, 37, a Northeast District officer, is a decorated eight-year veteran of the force who lives in Holland. She has been suspended without pay and charged with one departmental charge for conduct unbecoming of an officer.
Corcoran, 39, is an art teacher at South Park High School and lives on Baynes Street. "It would seem to be a reckless lapse of judgment," said State Police Capt. Michael Nigrelli of the Thruway station. "We never got a concrete, bona-fide explanation why the event occurred.
"It was a very dangerous activity that wasn't well thought-out," he added. "It appears there was no malicious intent to endanger another person, but the incident itself was reckless."
Nigrelli also said police "have no evidence that there was alcohol impairment."
DA sees alcohol as factor
However, Erie County District Attorney Frank J. Clark believes alcohol was a factor because the women admitted they had been drinking at several bars just before they fired the weapon. Clark also was disturbed that state police did not conduct sobriety tests on the driver.
"It would seem to me that alcohol played some role in it," Clark said. "They were two mature and professional women engaging in bizarre conduct, who admitted they were at different establishments drinking. I'm not saying they were drunk, but why wouldn't [the troopers] do a prescreening [for alcohol]? Why wouldn't they do what they always do in a case like that? I find it highly unusual."
On Thursday, Buffalo police officials and the Buffalo Public School District confirmed that they have each launched internal probes.
"We're investigating and discipline will be forthcoming depending on the results of the criminal case," Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson said.
"It's my understanding that her service weapon was used. We hope that no officer would do anything like that. This is definitely contrary to her reputation here as a good, hard-working officer."
Lopez received Mayor's Awards of Merit for bravery in 2000 and 2001 - the latter for detaining suspects at the scene of a stabbing at a Central Park Plaza bar.
Heather Groll, a spokeswoman for the Buffalo Public Schools, said school officials will also investigate the incident.
"We'll look into the situation as the police investigate it and we'll take any action that is appropriate," Groll said.
Lopez and Corcoran were on their way home after spending the night bar hopping, prosecutors said. Lopez was driving west on the Thruway, with Corcoran in the passenger seat.
At about 3 a.m., Lopez pulled over on the Thruway, just beyond the Kensington Expressway, state police said.
At the time, a trooper on routine patrol, parked on the eastbound side of the highway, heard the shots and later stopped the vehicle.
"It appears [Lopez and Corcoran] decreased their speed, pulled over on the shoulder, and they fired several shots from the weapon," Nigrelli said. "Both occupants fired the weapon in no particular direction. There's speculation they fired the shots in the air - like a warning shot. Then, they resumed their travel and proceeded westbound. It was a very brief incident."
Prosecutors say Corcoran fired one shot, while Lopez fired several shots.
Added charges sought
The trooper pulled over their car and confiscated the officer's service handgun and appearance tickets were issued to the women, charging each with reckless endangerment.
Clark said he believes the more appropriate charge would be prohibited use of weapons - also a misdemeanor - so prosecutors are urging state police to refile the charge. Lopez and Corcoran are scheduled to appear on the charges next Thursday in a Cheektowaga courtroom.
"It's an unfortunate incident but I'm sure the criminal justice system will handle the matter appropriately," said Nigrelli.
"This is an isolated incident and it should not reflect on the professionals of the Buffalo Police Department."
Officer suspended after Cheektowaga gun-firing spree
Off-duty Buffalo Police Officer Dawn Lopez parked her car on the shoulder of the Thruway in Cheektowaga and fired her service handgun out the window early Wednesday, according to state police. Her passenger, Buffalo art teacher Megan Corcoran, also fired a shot from the 9mm Glock out the car window, state police said.
The two fired several bullets toward a grassy area backed by a fence, with a residential neighborhood about 75 to 100 yards away, state police said. No one was injured.
Troopers who arrested the pair were not able to determine the motive for the shooting. Both were charged with second-degree reckless endangerment - a misdemeanor.
Lopez, 37, a Northeast District officer, is a decorated eight-year veteran of the force who lives in Holland. She has been suspended without pay and charged with one departmental charge for conduct unbecoming of an officer.
Corcoran, 39, is an art teacher at South Park High School and lives on Baynes Street. "It would seem to be a reckless lapse of judgment," said State Police Capt. Michael Nigrelli of the Thruway station. "We never got a concrete, bona-fide explanation why the event occurred.
"It was a very dangerous activity that wasn't well thought-out," he added. "It appears there was no malicious intent to endanger another person, but the incident itself was reckless."
Nigrelli also said police "have no evidence that there was alcohol impairment."
DA sees alcohol as factor
However, Erie County District Attorney Frank J. Clark believes alcohol was a factor because the women admitted they had been drinking at several bars just before they fired the weapon. Clark also was disturbed that state police did not conduct sobriety tests on the driver.
"It would seem to me that alcohol played some role in it," Clark said. "They were two mature and professional women engaging in bizarre conduct, who admitted they were at different establishments drinking. I'm not saying they were drunk, but why wouldn't [the troopers] do a prescreening [for alcohol]? Why wouldn't they do what they always do in a case like that? I find it highly unusual."
On Thursday, Buffalo police officials and the Buffalo Public School District confirmed that they have each launched internal probes.
"We're investigating and discipline will be forthcoming depending on the results of the criminal case," Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson said.
"It's my understanding that her service weapon was used. We hope that no officer would do anything like that. This is definitely contrary to her reputation here as a good, hard-working officer."
Lopez received Mayor's Awards of Merit for bravery in 2000 and 2001 - the latter for detaining suspects at the scene of a stabbing at a Central Park Plaza bar.
Heather Groll, a spokeswoman for the Buffalo Public Schools, said school officials will also investigate the incident.
"We'll look into the situation as the police investigate it and we'll take any action that is appropriate," Groll said.
Lopez and Corcoran were on their way home after spending the night bar hopping, prosecutors said. Lopez was driving west on the Thruway, with Corcoran in the passenger seat.
At about 3 a.m., Lopez pulled over on the Thruway, just beyond the Kensington Expressway, state police said.
At the time, a trooper on routine patrol, parked on the eastbound side of the highway, heard the shots and later stopped the vehicle.
"It appears [Lopez and Corcoran] decreased their speed, pulled over on the shoulder, and they fired several shots from the weapon," Nigrelli said. "Both occupants fired the weapon in no particular direction. There's speculation they fired the shots in the air - like a warning shot. Then, they resumed their travel and proceeded westbound. It was a very brief incident."
Prosecutors say Corcoran fired one shot, while Lopez fired several shots.
Added charges sought
The trooper pulled over their car and confiscated the officer's service handgun and appearance tickets were issued to the women, charging each with reckless endangerment.
Clark said he believes the more appropriate charge would be prohibited use of weapons - also a misdemeanor - so prosecutors are urging state police to refile the charge. Lopez and Corcoran are scheduled to appear on the charges next Thursday in a Cheektowaga courtroom.
"It's an unfortunate incident but I'm sure the criminal justice system will handle the matter appropriately," said Nigrelli.
"This is an isolated incident and it should not reflect on the professionals of the Buffalo Police Department."
