Police chief quits as firearms instructor (UT)

[davepc]

Riverdale Police Chief Dave Hansen, who accidentally shot himself while teaching a concealed weapon-permit course in May, has resigned as a firearms instructor.

Hansen "voluntarily surrendered" his teaching credentials before the Bureau of Criminal Identification weapons review board took up the issue of his competency as an instructor this week, Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, said Tuesday.

Oda asked the agency for an investigation into Han sen's ability as a firearms instructor after the veteran police officer shot himself in the ankle May 3 while teaching a concealed weapon-permit course inside a classroom.

The incident landed Hansen in the hospital and drew criticism from students enrolled in his course.

Hansen started with the Riverdale Police Department more than 20 years ago and became chief two years ago. He was a certified concealed-firearms instructor in Utah and has taught classes regularly for five years.

...

http://origin.sltrib.com/news/ci_9817818

[tularetom]

1. That's embarrassing

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. Agreed, but it's no reason to quit

How many of us have never made a mistake on the job? And many mistakes are worse than a negligent shot causing injury.

Surgeons don't quit if they leave a wristwatch inside a patient. If it's a Timex, they flood the patient with antibiotics. If it's a Rolex, they operate again to remove it.

One mistake doesn't make the guy a bad instructor. But, if the ND was due to attitude, showing off, then maybe he was a bad instructor to begin with.

[Tejas]

6. also agree

Not sure how to put it but now that he's 'been there, done that' it might go far in his teaching a class, especially in the safety aspects since he now has unique "credibility". That, and his 20+ year service in law enforcement.

[tburnsten]

2. Everyone makes mistakes

Many people who are quite safe with their firearms have a negligent discharge in their lifetime, his was only different because it took place in a class he was teaching. still better than




Because he is the only one "professional enough" to handle that Glock...

[spin]

3. I remember a police instructor...

in the Tampa Bay area of Florida who had two accidental discharges when handling his .40 cal Glock in the lounge area of the Police pistol range.

The first AD shot a coke machine. He stated it was a slam fire. The second, a couple of months later, put a hole in the carpet of the lounge area. He no longer is a police firearms instructor.

There was a bullet trap in the lounge to be used to safely load and unload firearms, especially semi-auto handguns. Obviously he chose to ignore it.

[SteveM]

4. Reminds me of this verse from The Ballad of Irving:

Well, finally Irving got three slugs in the belly.
It was right outside the Frontier Deli.
He was sittin' there twirlin' his gun around,
And butterfingers Irving gunned himself down!

-- Frank Gallop, 1966, Album: "When You're in Love, the Whole World is Jewish"