UMVA has learned that a shocking incident of firearm mishandling unfolded inside a California police department’s parking garage, leaving one officer wounded by a fellow cop’s accidental discharge.
The drama unfolded on September 7, 2025, when dash‑cam footage captured an officer pointing his loaded weapon toward an approaching vehicle before holstering it. Moments later, another officer inside a cruiser drew his gun, and the weapon unexpectedly fired.
The stray bullet smashed through the windshield, striking the first officer in the shoulder as he crumpled to the ground, pain etched across his face while colleagues rushed to his aid.
Police Chief Gene issued a stark warning, describing the episode as “unsafe and out‑of‑policy horseplay involving loaded firearms,” and confirmed that the injured officer has since recovered from his wounds.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the department released the video publicly to comply with state law, delaying its debut only to safeguard the investigation’s integrity while forensic evidence and witness statements are still being examined.
The internal probe has already concluded, resulting in undisclosed disciplinary measures, though the exact nature of the penalties and whether either officer remains on leave remain shrouded in secrecy.
Officials emphasized that reckless behavior and any deviation from safety protocols will not be tolerated, underscoring a renewed push for strict firearm discipline within law‑enforcement ranks.
