Police Negligent Discharge Study - Results Not What You Might Think

[Excaliber]

A detailed study of a large number of negligent discharges by police in a wide variety of circumstances has just been completed and is well worth the read here.

Interestingly enough, a substantial majority of the incidents occurred not during high stress encounters, but in the course of routine or adminstrative handling.

[treadlightly]

It wanted $35 for the study. If you can, without violating terms of use, what was the conclusion?

The phrase "startle response" jumped out. Not only is there good reason to keep your finger off the stinkin' trigger, but anchoring it is probably a good deal, too. I think that's sometimes called indexing - find a spot on the side of the gun and press your trigger finger against it.

[bmwrdr]

I thank my drill sergeant to hammer the safety rules in my head when I was young!
Never had a ND in over 35 years and don't plan to have one.
Another term I learned from my CHL instructor way back was to keep the booger hook off the trigger ....

[bigtek]

There's a lot more routine and administrative handling than high stress gun handling.

[Abraham]

I've read here about some LEO's feeling the need to disarm LTCers without using proper firearm handling.

It's a huge concern if such were to happen to me as my Glock 19 has a 3.5 trigger pull...

[Excaliber]

It wanted $35 for the study. If you can, without violating terms of use, what was the conclusion?

The phrase "startle response" jumped out. Not only is there good reason to keep your finger off the stinkin' trigger, but anchoring it is probably a good deal, too. I think that's sometimes called indexing - find a spot on the side of the gun and press your trigger finger against it.

I got the link from Force Science News, which said it would be free through some time in February. I was able to see the whole article this morning. I'll look into it and see if I can't find another URL for a free copy.

[Excaliber]

Try this link.

It gives access to the full study summary, and it's free as of 7:19 PM tonight.

[flechero]

Interestingly enough, a substantial majority of the incidents occurred not during high stress encounters, but in the course of routine or adminstrative handling.

That's not very surprising to me. Most of the time people let their guard down during the routine, mundane tasks. Training, more reliably kicks in when things go bad...

[WTR]

When my friend was a patrol Officer the Dept. switched from revolvers to S & W 59s I think. His partner let a round discharge inside the patrol car. He was fiddling with the new weapon.

[oohrah]

Interestingly enough, a substantial majority of the incidents occurred not during high stress encounters, but in the course of routine or adminstrative handling.

That's not very surprising to me. Most of the time people let their guard down during the routine, mundane tasks. Training, more reliably kicks in when things go bad...

We had an ND by a Deputy at the County Jail, becasue he had disarmed by removing his pistol from the holster (instead of removing the holstered pistol). When replacing his pistol, he had his keys in his hand, and one of them caught on the trigger.

[mojo84]

I haven't seen the study but I suspect complacency is extremely high when it comes to ND's.

[SQLGeek]

Interestingly enough, a substantial majority of the incidents occurred not during high stress encounters, but in the course of routine or adminstrative handling.

That's not very surprising to me. Most of the time people let their guard down during the routine, mundane tasks. Training, more reliably kicks in when things go bad...

We had an ND by a Deputy at the County Jail, becasue he had disarmed by removing his pistol from the holster (instead of removing the holstered pistol). When replacing his pistol, he had his keys in his hand, and one of them caught on the trigger.

Someone with a lot more experience than me can comment on this but I understand it's pretty difficult if not impossible to remove most duty holsters while the duty belt is still on.

[Excaliber]

Interestingly enough, a substantial majority of the incidents occurred not during high stress encounters, but in the course of routine or adminstrative handling.

That's not very surprising to me. Most of the time people let their guard down during the routine, mundane tasks. Training, more reliably kicks in when things go bad...

We had an ND by a Deputy at the County Jail, becasue he had disarmed by removing his pistol from the holster (instead of removing the holstered pistol). When replacing his pistol, he had his keys in his hand, and one of them caught on the trigger.

Someone with a lot more experience than me can comment on this but I understand it's pretty difficult if not impossible to remove most duty holsters while the duty belt is still on.

That's true.

Removing the holstered pistol is only practical with a clip on or belt slide holster of the types often worn off duty or for plainclothes assignments.

[ELB]

Try this link.

It gives access to the full study summary, and it's free as of 7:19 PM tonight.

Unfortunately not as of 0843 this morning, at least not for me.

[ScottDLS]

I suspect since the police handle their firearms much more frequently than even the average concealed carrier, they would have more accidental discharges. Maybe the same thing goes for automobile negligents too, given the more aggressive driving required of LEO.