In a story that somehow manages to be simultaneously baffling, ironic, and deeply ironic again, a Pasadena, California police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow cop during what authorities are officially describing as ‘horseplay.’ Yes, you read that correctly. The people we count on to handle firearms with the utmost professionalism were, apparently, goofing around.
Video of the incident — because of course there’s video — captured the moment things went from ‘haha, classic workplace shenanigans’ to ‘somebody please call… well, the police, presumably different ones.’ The footage was enough to confirm that this was not exactly a textbook example of the firearms safety protocols drilled into every officer from day one of the academy.
For those keeping score at home, rule number one of gun safety is treating every firearm as if it’s loaded. Rule number two is not pointing it at your coworker during what one can only imagine was an extremely ill-advised game of Cowboys and Cowboys. Pasadena PD has not clarified exactly what flavor of horseplay led to a real, actual bullet finding a real, actual fellow officer, but the mind boggles at the possibilities.
The injured officer survived, which is genuinely the best possible outcome in a situation that should never have had any outcomes at all. Authorities launched an investigation into the incident, which we imagine began with someone asking, ‘So… what exactly were you two doing?’ and ended with a very long, very uncomfortable silence.
This story serves as a remarkable reminder that ‘workplace safety’ applies to absolutely every profession — even the ones where everyone is already carrying the very things workplace safety is supposed to protect you from. Maybe next team-building exercise, stick to trust falls.
*Source: ABC7 Chicago / Reddit r/offbeat*
Original story via Reddit Offbeat
