Portland cop mistakenly shoots a man with live rounds loaded into a beanbag shotgun

[Earth_First]

Nearly three months after a Portland police officer mistakenly fired lethal shotgun ammunition from a less-lethal beanbag shotgun, striking and wounding a suspect, the Portland Police Bureau has yet to take any significant steps to prevent a similar mistake from happening.

"When you've got two rounds that go into the same gun that do two different things, there's potential for mistakes," said Sgt. David Thompson, of the Washington County Sheriff's office.

A Portland directive says police must only load lethal munitions into the lethal shotgun, and less-lethal rounds into a less-lethal shotgun. Portland police train officers not to carry lethal with less-lethal ammunition.

Portland officers say it's not uncommon for officers to carry lethal shotgun rounds and bean-bag shotgun rounds in their duty bags. There's no directive that prevents that, Portland police said.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/09/months_after_portland_cop_acci.html

[MADem]

1. There's no directive that prevents that, Portland police said.

I think there needs to be, that might help the situation somewhat.

[rgbecker]

2. In England, the cops don't even carry guns, I'm told...just saying.

[Welibs]

3. It's true and they are really tough cops. They bring billy clubs to gun fights and win!

That's tough! Or psychopatic.

[mwrguy]

5. Tell that to Jean-Charles de Menezes

Shot 7 times for the crime of being brown in public.

British cops are just as thuggish as American cops, and more and more of them are carrying guns these days.

[rhett o rick]

4. Cops are forgiven such mistakes. We wouldnt want to hold them accountable. nm