LEO shotgun left in vehicle

[GunNut666]

Hi,

I'm just curious as to procedures for leo's dropping off vehicle's at a dealership. I work for a Ford dealer in the SF bay area. Yesterday we noticed one of the crown vic's in the parking lot still had the shotgun in the rack! It was not removed by the officer when dropping the vehicle off. It sat in our lot for 3 days before being worked on. The technician who worked on the car called me over to check it. I did not remove it from the rack but did open the action to see if it was loaded. It was not. The saddle had 5 rds in it. Our service writer called the officer who dropped the car off. He picked it up the next day.

I'm only concerned because our shop is not in the best neighborhood. It is fenced and has cameras. Thankfully the car was not parked close to the street where someone could see it.

What kind of disciplinary action would the officer receive for doing this?

[Petro6golf]

A nastygram from the Sgt. Good luck getting the shotgun out of the electronic lock without a key or knowing what your doing. I suppose if it got stolen he could have gotten an IA investigation.

[Ron-Solo]

Someone screwed up.

They are rarely taken to a dealer by a sworn officer. Most departments have support staff that handle that task. LASD also uses senior volunteers. A shotgun should never be in a vehicle going for service.

[SquareLite]

most guns left in the cars are empty as most depts issue each officer shotgun/rifle ammo and they keep it with them. i have seen some depts have racks that are universal and pretty much a barrel clamp and i'm sure you could operate the action still in the rack.

It would most likely end up in a disciplinary letter.

[CBR_rider]

most guns left in the cars are empty as most depts issue each officer shotgun/rifle ammo and they keep it with them. i have seen some depts have racks that are universal and pretty much a barrel clamp and i'm sure you could operate the action still in the rack.

Why would I leave a shotgun issued to me in a car but take out the ammo?

Anyway, I doubt whatever agency you were servicing the car from allows their personnel to leave firearms in their cars (loaded or not) while they are being serviced. Whoever left them in their car would probably at least get an unfriendly meeting with their supervisor if not a letter in their file.

[Mr.Matt]

Officer screw up.
Regardless of whatever "locks" are available and in use it should have been removed and turned in prior to end of shift.

[SquareLite]

Why would I leave a shotgun issued to me in a car but take out the ammo?

Anyway, I doubt whatever agency you were servicing the car from allows their personnel to leave firearms in their cars (loaded or not) while they are being serviced. Whoever left them in their car would probably at least get an unfriendly meeting with their supervisor if not a letter in their file.

Most agencies in my neck of the woods don't issue specific shotguns to officers. Some depts leave them in the cars when they are in the yard, then an officer gets in, loads his issued ammo into the shotgun and heads out. Gets back, unloads and leaves the shotgun in the car.

[Tripper]

I'd suggest leaving it alone next time
You certainly don't want to be explaining why you have to repair the roof and replace the lightbar, due to a hole through it

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Someone screwed up.

They are rarely taken to a dealer by a sworn officer. Most departments have support staff that handle that task. LASD also uses senior volunteers. A shotgun should never be in a vehicle going for service.

Yep, and we account for all of our weapons at the beginning of each shift.

[4DMASTR]

Where you at GunNut? I just left Serramonte Ford. I have seen this many many times, CHP seems to be the worst about it. I have the writer call the P.D. and have them pick it up. If it ends up missing they will question the tech that worked on it first

[toyotech]

Better question is how much trouble can you get into for being curious with customers property, in their car? Please let us all know where you work so that we can take all our personal property out of our cars if we ever have to come there for service.

why would anyone get in trouble, most dealerships have signs that say remove all personal property. who doesnt mess with lights in cars before working on them. heck one time i was working on a window switch and what looked like a real revolver in the door pocket. i slowly took it out and it was a toy gun
you dont know these customers. i been in so many that smells like weed but am i suppose to report it or its not my problem..

[CBR_rider]

Most agencies in my neck of the woods don't issue specific shotguns to officers. Some depts leave them in the cars when they are in the yard, then an officer gets in, loads his issued ammo into the shotgun and heads out. Gets back, unloads and leaves the shotgun in the car.

I suppose it's cheaper to account for however many rounds of assigned ammo instead of a shotgun for each officer...

[shojivic]

#1. No mechanic/tech/civilian should be "checking" to determine a LEO's weapon condition. Period.

#2. To CYA for said mechanic, it's probably a good idea to get in touch with the officer who took the shop in for service. If he's unavailable, then maybe someone at the station. Who wants to get blamed for a missing weapon? Sorry, but in this day and age, not many take responsibility for their actions; especially when faced with suspension days.

#3. Said officer might have made an honest mistake. It happens to us all. No one is perfect, but the outcomes can be disastrous. That's why most Depts have stiff penalties.

[CSACANNONEER]

#1. No mechanic/tech/civilian should be "checking" to determine a LEO's weapon condition. Period.

#2. To CYA for said mechanic, it's probably a good idea to get in touch with the officer who took the shop in for service. If he's unavailable, then maybe someone at the station. Who wants to get blamed for a missing weapon? Sorry, but in this day and age, not many take responsibility for their actions; especially when faced with suspension days.

#3. Said officer might have made an honest mistake. It happens to us all. No one is perfect, but the outcomes can be disastrous. That's why most Depts have stiff penalties.

#1 If a firearm is left in my care, I don't care who owns it. I will check it to make sure it isn't loaded. This is about safety. If you feel that somehow all LEOs have superior training and no one but another LEO should be allowed to check their firearms under any conditions, you don't have a clue about firearm's safety and should not handle a firearm until you receive proper firearms safety training.

Personally, I've never had a LEO take issue with me checking the condition of any and every firearm that he/she was putting in my care whether it was for a minute or it was being left with me for an extended period.

[Tripper]

Perfectly safe
Locked where it is
UNTIL someone F's with it

I think an LEO leaving something in my care intends for it to be exactly as s/he left it, unmolested