Airport police officer discharges confiscated revolver

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A similar incident happened in the early 90's at Reagan National but in this case the bullet ended up in the officers' arm and not the wall.
 
A revolver? Must have cocked it thinking that was a new and improved cylinder release.

Anyway, the thing that bothers me the most is the flight attendant will probably lose her CCW but the TSA officer will probably continue doing the same dangerously imcompetent job because their training means they can call this ND a simple mistake.
 
The flight attendant was taken to secondary screening room, where an airport police officer attempted to unload the gun, and it discharged into a wall.
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Is an "airport police officer" part of the TSA...or the local police?
 
How the heck does an "officer" not know how to unload a revolver, and how does the trigger get pulled in the process? I can just hear the Antis in Congress using this as evidence that guns can discharge on a whim, even when an "expert" is unloading them... makes me ill just thinking about this level of incompetence.
 
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Philly PD. I still haven't figured out how they managed this. J Frames don't "go off" all that easily. That being said, most cops (that are not gun people), with less than 10-15 years on the job, may have no experience with wheel guns.
 
Most "airport" police are regular sworn munincipal LEOs assigned to the airport (in every city I have worked in). The fact that he did not know how to unload a revolver does not surprise me at all - I would bet that most LEOs in today's world have never held a revolver in their hands before. Most of them are dangerous with a loaded Glock. (not their fault) My guess is he believed the hammer needed to be cocked to open the cylinder and was not paying attention where his fingers were because he had no experience with a SA trigger. The TSA are not sworn officers and have no power of arrest. But they can get a real cop very quickly on their radios.
 
Is an "airport police officer" part of the TSA...or the local police?
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As drail mentioned, they are sworn LEO's and not TSA. Many departments have an airport detail/unit. In the case of Washington Dulles and Reagan National, the airports are run by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) which has it's own dedicated police force. (sworn and certified by the state).

On June 7, 1987, Washington Dulles International and Washington National Airports were transferred to the Airports Authority under a 50-year lease authorized by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Act of 1986, Title VI of Public Law 99-500. All property was transferred to the Airports Authority and the Federal government holds title to the lease. Prior to the transfer, the airports were owned and operated by the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation.

As a side note...the FAA Police patch is a desired one for many collectors.

;)
 
and it discharged into a wall
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So where do I get me one of those self-firing guns I always hear about. Pulling the trigger takes so much effort, I'd much rather the gun just fire itself:rolleyes:

It's always the gun....never the idiot:confused:
 
People whose duties require them to handle unfamiliar firearms NEED to be taught to not screw with any gun you don't know the manual of arms for. Everyone in the area would be safer if the gun was considered loaded (and possibly defective) and to immediately place it in a container and remove it to a safe handling area. The boarding area of an airport is not a safe handling area. (especially if you don't really know what you're doing):rolleyes: I used to watch "Cops" years ago and be shocked watching so many street cops attempt to unload a weapon that they confiscated while pointing it at every person in the scene while fumbling with slides and levers and buttons while their partners would crowd in around them offering suggestions. Much more money needs to be allocated for LEO training in today's world. If you were not taught proper gunhandling from your father or your drill sergeant or someone knowledgeable then your are playing with real fire.
 
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Might be helpful if they were trained to point it at their own leg.
No loose shots and a bit more attention paid to the lesson?

I can picture the problem- owner's gun in the hands of a clueless authoritarian individual and if the owner tries to help they'll be beaten down for trying to prevent a disaster......
 
Would a bucket of sand in the corner be too much to ask? I know, I know a $200 hammer / toilet seat now a $200 bucket of sand, but at least it would be safer than what they are now doing. Sheesh!:o
 
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