Accidental Discharge; No Injuries

Los Angeles:  An off-duty Los Angeles police officer reported an accidental discharge at his home.

On October 8, 2006, at around 7:40 a.m., Officer Michael Wells, assigned to Pacific Area, was putting away his duty weapon after arriving home from work.  He accidentally discharged a round into the floor of his home.  No one was hurt as a result of the accidental discharge. 

Officer Wells is 27 years old and has been with the Department for 14 months.

Pacific Area detectives are handling the investigation.  Questions may be directed to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Comments

[Jerry]

Is this really necessary news? I don't think anyone in the public really cares about this accidental discharge that did no harm to anyone, and it does the officer no good to actually name him in this blog.

[J R]

Just another example of how LAPD eats their own. This blog is taking "transparency" to a whole new level.

It's no wonder we have problems with hiring and RETENTION.

[George]

I take it as a lesson to be very careful w/ my weapon. Keep the finger off the trigger till you have a target...This officer made a mistake or his weapon malfuntioned. Either way us non Law Enforcement Officers like hearing that Officers are human and make mistakes as well...

[Ed O' Shea]

Pathetic of the Department to put this up as news! Let's just embarrass the kid as much as we can, c'mon, knock it off and post some real news! We have children getting killed and Officers being assaulted and shot at and this AD is what the Department wants to put out as news? Pathetic! How about the FACT that we still do not have enough rifles in the patrol cars. And they do NO GOOD in the rifle case in the trunk, which is where the department wants them stored!?!

[Citizen / Officer]

I agree with Jerry. The "accidental discharge," as described in the blog, places too much emphasis on minor incident, but it will probably humiliate the officer more than anything. I don't think the Fire Department report their personnel dropping their fire hose or a politician dropping their pen. I hope the officer's right for privacy is not being violated, there was no use of force involved, and yet his name is still being paraded. Does the Department know all the information you can find on the internet...?

[redrooster]

How did the Department even know about this discharge?

[Lt. De La Torre]

In March 2006, the Los Angeles Police Commission heard discussion relative to the California Public Records Act regarding Officer Involved Shootings. After much debate and discussion the Police Commission set forth policy directing the Department to release the names of all Categorical Use of Force incidents on press releases.

The Los Angeles Police Commission represents the public's interest as well as those of the men and women of this Department, as such, they must balance the interest of both for the betterment of the City of Los Angeles.

[J Q Public]

What if it happened in a crowded place? Lots of cops carry when they are off-duty. This seems to happen more often than we think. Let's just be thankful nobody was hurt this time.

[Concerned Citizen]

Lt...I feel for you in this position of having to tow the company line. I'm sure you don't always agree with the statements you have to make...

The Police Commission is a big part of the problem the LAPD faces. John Mack as President.....what a total disgrace! So to use the excuse that the Police Commission approved the public humiliation of Police Officers doesn't make it right and will not keep officers from leaving and looking for work with other departments who actually like and support their cops...

[Marc]

It wasn't necessary to report the officer's name. I wonder if it was a violation of his employee rights.

[J Q Public]

The LT was clear: the Commission found that the public's interest in this information being disclosed outweighs the officer's interest in keeping it under wraps. If you have a problem with the decision, perhaps you should approach your union, as it is their job to represent only the interests of the officers and they have no obligation to serve the public.

The public has a right to know which Department employees are not handling firearms in a safe manner, whether they are on-duty or otherwise.

Had common safety guidelines been followed, the gun never would have gone off, and there would be no story for the LT to convey. Maybe these types of posts will encourage other officers to demonstrate the level of caution and responsibility that is expected of them.

Also, why is this labeled as accidental instead of negligent?

[P]

RE: JQ Public

I don't mean this to be a personal attack on you...but after watching this blog for several months I have noticed that you haven't had one nice thing to say about the officers who protect and serve you. If you are jaded for some reason (tickets, arrests, etc) then fine. I encourage you to do a ride-along and see what it is like. I'm sure you are not interested in that so I put the following out to you: Since the "public should have the right to know which officers are not handeling thier firearms in a safe manner", everyone else should know when Mr JQ Public is doing something wrong. So it would be fair that you post a daily report of everything you do wrong everyday. Just drop all the other bloggers a line when you go over the speed limit, park in the red, rear end another vehicle, overcharge your credit card on accident ( or would that be negligent?), lose your wallet, etc...you get the point. I'm sure evryone on this blog will be as understanding towards you as you are towards the officers that serve and protect you. Just food for thought.

(Oh, and I'm sure your response to this will be that officers are public servants and the public has the right to know about everything we do wrong, so I say this...If nothing else, when you drive your car you have the responsibility to operate it in a safe manner, just like officers do. So at least have the integrity to share with us bloggers whenever you make a traffic violation so we are all held to the same level for once. Since this particular officer had the integrity to report his accidental discharge when no one would have known, I'm sure you could do the same. I look forward to hearing about your travels...) And don't forget to post your real name so everyone who has internet access can know who you are.

P

[Jeff]

Gee, for a minute there, P, I thought that I was the only one that noticed that about JQ. Always going against the grain! Remember, JQ's criminal justice teachers told him that if he was to choose a career in LE, he would make Joe Friday look like Barney Fife!

[J Q Public]

P,

It's irresponsible to compare my driving habits (though since you asked, zero tickets in 3 years, zero accidents in 6 years) with the regular "accidental" or "negligent" shootings that occur by an off-duty officer being careless. Leave the red herrings for someone else.

The difference here is that I understand when I make a mistake, I accept the consequences that come with it. Unfortuntely, there appears to be a pattern of posters here claiming to be LAPD that feel mistakes should not lead to consequences. All I can say to this is that I am glad the Commission is the one making these calls and not officers. History has proven, time and time again, that this Department is incapable of existing without oversight.

Also, I find it interesting that nobody has yet to address the "what if" about an accidental or negligent discharge in public.

JQP

[Michael Stamps]

The public has a right to know who's not handling their firearm in a safe manner???? That's an in-house training issue!! Not a "public needs to know" issue. And do you think posting the officer's name is going to "encourage" officers to be more safe? Get real, it's going to happen again,,just like car accidents. Why don't we just make them wear a sign around their neck for a month when something like this happens? That's just as humiliating. Oh, and Jeff, the "consequences" should be that this officer be givin proper "in-house" discipline and mandatory "in-house" training. Not lower the pride and dignity of the employee..Thank GOD I work for another police department!

[Concerned]

That is real nice to post this officers name, division, and time on. Way to boost morale and hiring tactics. The kid was honest enough to report the accidental discharge, then you hang him out to dry like this. "Unbelievable."
The LAPD has to get out of its caveman thinking and start getting into some modern day leadership skills. The heavy hand approach to disipline does not work in this day and age. You can not lead and motivate by fear. This blog is a prime example why so many officers do the bare mininum and go home. Many officers don't do proactive policing during their shifts. Because if there is any implication or even complained of (hear say). There is a supervisor with a pen and pad in hand. Next comes the Internal Affairs investigation. I am not talking major incidents here either. This young officer will get some disiplinary action "OK" but to humiliate him by posting this is truely unfair.
LAPD needs some visionary leaders. Not the wait until something happens (leaders) and administer some sort of punishment.

[Pete Malloy]

One of the problems here is that the general public think that LAPD is the only agency with these "problems". Be it a negligent discharge, on duty traffic acidents or even criminal activity. LAPD officers come from the same stock of the community that every other police department hires from. The difference is that all the other police departments around southern california dont make news items out of their officers actions unless it actually affects the public or is a need to know item. This off duty firing a weapon incident is not news worthy, regardless of what the liberal Los Angeles residents believe. We can blame the Commission, Bratton, Villaconquista and the City's history for the weak back bone the famed LAPD now has. . .

[Jhon Doe p-2]

I posted this similar response to another accidental discharge a while back. I was told that, "due to the consent decree we have to allow the officers name to be public info..." Once AGAIN,...I SHALL say the the honest opinon of most, if not all... If it is available to public, let the public COME AND GET IT, don't HELP the officer feel any worse than he does by ADVERTISING his name!!!! We are cops, NOT reporters. Get the facts straight, know your posistion, and your level of decency. For what it's worth, the reason all other agencies make lateral "job openings" for LAPD officers is for reasons like this, as well as many others...

[p]

Mr JQ Public,

I don't intend to sway your opinion about the LAPD. I'm sure you have your reasons. I'm not sure how comparing an accidental discharge by an off-duty officer to someones bad habits driving a 3,500 lbs automobile is irresponsible. I would rather be hit with a stray bullet than a car. I think the comparision is just fine. (By the way...have you only been driving for 6 years, or was that the last time you got into an accident?) My point is every time an officer does something wrong his name is dragged through the mud by this department. I did notice you didn't leave your full name on your last post, I guess it's because you don't want everyone who has access to the internet to know your name...I can understand that. I guess the higher ups in this departmnet don't understand though.

You stated "The difference here is that I understand when I make a mistake, I accept the consequences that come with it. Unfortuntely, there appears to be a pattern of posters here claiming to be LAPD that feel mistakes should not lead to consequences." Refresh my memory but I don't recall having read one blog entry that said there shouldn't be consequences when officers make mistakes...trust me, the department is plenty harsh on officers during their internal discipline process. The point is, in any other job or department, you don't see the employees name put on the internet. (unless your a sex offender).

I'm suprised you haven't acknowledged the officers integrity in this incident. This incident happened at the officers home. No one would have ever known, but this officer had the integrity to notify his supervisors and do the right thing. The officer did this knowing there would be consequences, so your statements are BS.

The next time you call the LAPD for help with whatever problems you have, maybe you should try giving the officers a commendation instead of complaining. Keep in mind though that you can only find a commendation form in English, though the complaint forms come in 20 different languages.

Until next time, please update us everytime you go above the speed limit, fail to use your turn signal, roll through a stop sign, etc. I would really like to share your mistakes with all the other bloggers, it would only be fair.

-P

[T]

LT.
Public release info does not have to be posted on the blog.

[Citizen / Officer]

Nicely explained P and John Doe P-2. I agree with everything you are saying. I believe JQ has a law enforcement or at least some knowledge of law enforcement issues. However, his liberal views don't allow him to see past his rights. Remember it is liberty until you infringe on somebody else's rights.

JQ have you ever worked as a police officer or been denied the position? How would you like your name paraded if you make a mistake. I think NOT.

If you don't think it matters, then post your full name on the INTERNET. Police Officers do not like their information posted because. obviously, the criminals we put in jail to protect the citizens do not like police. Why give them an opportunity to harm an officer????