Williamsport officer shoots self after firearms training

**Terminator** · 02-10-09, 08:22 PM

WILLIAMSPORT -- A Williamsport police officer accidentally shot himself in the left hand Tuesday after returning from firearms qualifying and training. Patrolman Sidney Gable was taken to Williamsport Hospital after the shooting in the basement of City Hall about 3:20 p.m. today.
Other officers were in the area but not injured and administered first aid, Capt. Raymond O. Kontz III said.
Kontz said Initial reports are that Gable was cleaning the .45-caliber service revolver when it discharged. Protocol calls for weapons to be unloaded before cleaning begins, he said. An investigation continues.
Gable was expected to spend the night in the hospital, police said.

**pgg** · 02-10-09, 08:51 PM

wow, they still carry revolvers? This is just another example of what is possible when people get lazy and don't follow basic safety rules.

**ChesCopPodz** · 02-10-09, 08:54 PM

The press calls any gun we carry as our "service revolver". I'd bet it's not

**Retdetsgt** · 02-10-09, 08:58 PM

I've know at least half a dozen cops on my dept who have shot themselves in the hand, leg or foot cleaning their "empty" firearm.

To a man, it's always been the gun nuts who you would have thought would have known better.

I guess they're the ones that get too self confident, I dunno.

One guy had served 8 years in the Marines, was on the pistol team, all that. He shot himself in the leg, hitting the femur artery and damned near bled to death. Last guy I would have thought would have been that careless. At least two others were range instructors.....

And I agree with ChesCopPodz, I've never seen any policeman carrying a .45 revolver.....