(NJ) Officer Killed While Cleaning Gun

G

Gusgus

New member
Moderators - I posted this in General, but thought that it would be benifical to post it here too, as a reminder to us all.

44 year old West Deptford Officer Dechen, died yesterday, after accidently shooting himself in the abdomen, while cleaning his service Sig. This one hits a little close to home. Officer Dechen, had just returned to the station, after qualifying at the range I'm a member of. He was cleaning his Sig at the station, when he accidently discharged it.

I'm posting this as a reminder to all of us, no matter how experienced we are, to never become casual, when it comes to gun safety. Check the chamber, check the chamber, check the chamber! Never point a gun toward you, or anyone else - EVER! We all know the rules, but we all need to be reminded from time to time.

I don't recall if I've ever shot along side of Officer Dechen, as I don't really remember the vast majority of good officers that handle themselves professionally. But I have shot alongside young "hotshots" from his department, that have scared me half to death with their gun handling. Hopefully this tragic accident, will awaken these young officers, to the fact that even though they are LEO, they're not bullet or accident proof. Maybe through this, they, and us, will be reminded to treat our weapons, with the reverence respect they deserve. I know I will.
 
***moved my response to general***

[This message has been edited by 10CFR (edited October 19, 2000).]
 
Any other facts? I've got three Sigs, have cleaned them, and still can't figure out how you end up pointing at yourself in the process.
 
Ya mean the guy at Del Norte who shot himself in the eye with his Glock 40?

I wonder if some of these strange ones are suicide, and they want it to look like an accident so the insurance will pay?
 
More likely so it will look good and be easier on the family.

Most if not all insurance policies exclude payment for suicide for "x" years, then pay, the theory being you didn't get the insurane so you could get a quick family payoff.
 
Back about 10 years ago we had a police officer accidently shoot himself with his service revolver (S&W model 66) while cleaning it. I couldn't figure how he did that accidently.
 
I don't care if the gun has been sitting empty in my safe for 6 months, or on the counter after unloading it for 6 minutes. Before I pull it apart or attempt to dryfire it, I check to make sure it's empty.

On autos, I drop the mag, lock back the slide, look down the mag well, and then look down the pipe. Yes, I look down the pipe to make sure nothing is jammed in there (remember Brandon Lee?). I know that some would disagree with the propriety of this practice (bring it on!), but it works for me.

On revolvers, I open the cylinder, hold it up against the light, and then check down the barrel.

Only then will I clean, dryfire, or otherwise fondle the gun.
 
I agree, a lot of the time these "gun cleaning accidents" are, ahem, less-than-accidental. My understanding, though, on the Del Norte thing was that the police had investigated and determined that it was an accident.

OTOH, I used to be a prosecutor, and I know that sometimes police investigators are kind in matters like this. So, ¿quién sabe? It's very, very sad.

Check that chamber at least three times, kiddies!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BrokenArrow:
Ya mean the guy at Del Norte who shot himself in the eye with his Glock 40?

I wonder if some of these strange ones are suicide, and they want it to look like an accident so the insurance will pay?[/quote]

The insurance will pay anyway, unless its a new policy. In some cases, it may be an attempt to "save" the family of the pain associated with a suicide... In other cases, it may just be an accident.

From what I've read, it appears that a disproportionately high number of cops eventually succumb to the stress of the life they live and work, and commit suicide. That may not have been the case, here.
 
I figure some "so called" accidental discharges "while cleaning the gun", are just them wiping down the outside of the gun with a cloth (consider this cleaning it? I don't think so!). That's how I picture these "so called" accidents happening. Other times I think it's just an excuse for their neglance/mishandling the firearm. I've even heard of "accidental discharges" in patrol cars before. To me cleaning a gun is having it disassembled in some form (ex: cylinder popped out, slide off, etc. making it inoperable(sp)). Doing this along with using the cleaning fluid/lubricant, rod,and brush, etc. can get quite messy. So I can't figure them doing this in their car, or certain other places. I raise the question if the people that have these "accidental discharges" learn from it, or not?
 
"On autos, I drop the mag, lock back the slide, look down the mag well, and then look down the pipe. Yes, I look down the pipe to make sure nothing is jammed in there (remember Brandon Lee?). I know that some would disagree with the propriety of this practice (bring it on!), but it works for me."

Me too. Before I do any cleaning, dry firing, slide cycling for function and cocking internal strikers, etc., I always look at the chamber through the ejection port and make sure I watch the slide/bolt go home on an empty chamber. (Beside dropping the mag and cycling the slide a couple of times.)

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- Ron V.
 
This sounds shaky...since you can't disasemble a Sig to clean without having the slide locked back (where you should see a round in the chamber). Maybe the officer was just wiping the gun down and not officially cleaning it? Anyway, it SHOULD have been inspected and unloaded.
 
Come one folks... Give the guy the benefit of a doubt. It was not said that he shot himself while swabbing out the barrel with a brush. Wiping the exterior down and putting the gun away is part of the cleaning procedure.

The news paper isn't going to say that he had cleaned it and shot himself while putting it away. They will say that he "shot himself while cleaning his gun".

FWIW, I am a police officer and I am well aware of the "numbers" regarding cop suicide but damn! Some people do have accidents. Nah, it *must* have been an insurance scam... Geeez!



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The Glock freak formerly known as Chris...
 
RE: I figure some "so called" accidental discharges "while cleaning the gun", are just them wiping down the outside of the gun with a cloth (consider this cleaning it? I don't think so!). That's how I picture these "so called" accidents happening.

Ditto. I was at a police range in OKC when an "officer" tried to fire his shiny revolver... only the cylinder wouldn't turn because it was gummed up with hardened Cola Product. Another dum-dum went "click" six times... only to realize his cartridges had become neutralized by the WD40 he sprayed on the (loaded) gun when he was "cleaning" it.

RE: Other times I think it's just an excuse for their neglance/mishandling the firearm.

Dumb SOB visiting my apartment in AK (before Wife) AD'd into the floor when he reloaded his Blackhawk and let slip an oily hammer when he went to lower it on a full chamber.

RE: I've even heard of "accidental discharges" in patrol cars before.

If he playes with his gun in his car, he probably playes with his wanger too...

RE: To me cleaning a gun is having it disassembled in some form (ex: cylinder popped out, slide off, etc. making it inoperable(sp)).

Right. DISASEMBLED GUNS CANNOT FIRE. ASSEMBLED GUN CANNOT BE CLEANED. End of story.

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/----------------------------------------------------------\
| HONOR PRAE OMNIBUS | Above all, Honor |
| INIURIA MINIMA OMNIBUS | Do least harm always |
\----------------------------------------------------------/
 
I don't buy the suicide theories! The springs on .40 Sigs are very strong. You have cock the hammer, and then hold the slide half way back, as you wiggle out the retaining pin. I found this almost impossible to do, until someone here showed me the "Clock Hold".

So, here's a very real possibility. He dropped the mag, but forgot to check the chamber. Holding the gun with his right hand, he supported the muzzle with his stomach as he pushed the slide away from him with his left hand. His hand slipped, and his finger was on the trigger. Could very well have happened this way.

I've seen the way other officers from his department handle their guns. Some of it may be arrogance, but I personally feel that these officers are not receiving proper firearm training. Hopefully, this will wake some people up.

Now let me get cynical. I can see a law suit against Sig, for not have a "take down lever" (never would have happened if he didn't have to hold the slide back), a law suit against the department (never would have happened if he wasn't required to qualify), and a law suit against the range (they have to sue everybody).
 
I always rack the slide twice after dropping the magazine. I'm just paraniod, but it's paid off.

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NRA/GOA/SAF
USMC '87-'91

Oregon residents please support the Oregon Firearms Federation, our local "No compromise" chapter of the GOA. http://www.oregonfirearms.org
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gusgus:
I don't buy the suicide theories! The springs on .40 Sigs are very strong. You have cock the hammer, and then hold the slide half way back, as you wiggle out the retaining pin.[/quote]

Huh? I'm confused. I have a P239 in .40. The recoil spring is not that stout (I'm a 5' 9", 160lb mouse potato). To field strip this gun, you remove magazine, rack the slide to empty the chamber, lock the slide open, turn the disassembly lever down, then push the slide assembly off the front of the gun. There's no retaining pin to slide out, and you can't disassemble the gun unless the slide is locked all the way open.

What sig are you talking about?

M1911
 
M1911. I was wondering that too. My P220 is like your 239. I wish they'd make that system on the 1911's. :D Oh well. It's sad when anybody is killed by a firearm. Accidentally or not, my prayers and thoughts go out to those he left behind. :(

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"Charlton Heston is my President"

Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters
 
1911 & Danny45,
OK, I admit it, I'm an idiot :) I have the 2340. I was led to believe that all Sigs break down the same way. I WISH mine came apart the way your's do. I have to hold the slide half way back with one hand, and wiggle out the slide lock lever with the other hand. Have to do the same thing to reassemble, except that in addition to holding the slide half way back under spring tension, you have to slide the barrel back and forth, until it's retaining hole is lined up with the ones on the slide and the frame, and then pickup and insert the slide lock lever, while holding your breath so that nothing moves out of alinement. I guess there goes my theory too.
 
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