Deputy Rick Emslie / Rutherford County Sheriff's Office
Local News Reports
A Rutherford County sheriff’s deputy who has been suspended at last twice during his 24-year career accidentally shot a fellow deputy at a gun range Wednesday, according to a news release.
Deputy Rick Emslie shot Lt. Brad Harrison during a firearms training course at the Sheriff’s Office’s firing range, according to a Sheriff’s Office release.
“The incident happened when Deputy Emslie removed the magazine from his weapon and prepared to disassemble it to oil it and the weapon discharged,” the report states. “A bullet fragment grazed Lt. Harrison’s calf.”
Emslie suffered powder burns to his left hand, and Harrison received a laceration to his calf, according to the report. Both were transported to Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital and released after treatment.
Sheriff Arnold said no disciplinary action would result from the current investigation because the incident was an accident.
ReplyDeleteArnold stated in the email no one else had been hurt on the firing range since he took office in 2010.
“Training is very dangerous but it’s necessary for us to train because of the real world environment in which we do our job,” Arnold said in the release."
I might have been able to buy this explanation if they had been practicing kicking doors, active shooter, etc. Even though there are a myriad of training aids out there to mitigate potential injuries.
However, that wasn't the case. he was disassembling his firearm to clean and lube it. Though the Sheriff doesn't want to admit it, the guy messed up.
“The incident happened when Deputy Emslie removed the magazine from his weapon and prepared to disassemble it to oil it and the weapon discharged,” the report states."