Palmer Lake Police Officer Faces Charges In Accidental Off-Duty Shooting Of Another Officer
(CBS4) - A Palmer Lake police officer is facing charges after accidentally shooting a fellow officer on Memorial Day. Brian Saltzman and another officer were at a small gathering when the shooting happened, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
The officer was hurt but is recovering.
Saltzman, 38, is facing second-degree assault, prohibited use of a weapon and reckless endangerment charges. He has been with the department since 2016 and is now on administrative leave.
The assault charge is a felony.
According to case documents obtained by CBS4, the incident occurred at a party at Saltzman's residence. Heellow officers and friends were celebrating the completion of a training program. Saltzman, according to a witness, was standing on an outdoor patio and yelled "eyes and ears" before firing a handgun. Saltzman fired the gun behind himself, the witness said. The other officer was standing behind Saltzman and was struck in the lower right leg.
The Palmer Lake Police Department is very small, with two full-time officers and a few part-time officers. The department said in a statement Tuesday that Saltzman has been employed there since 2016 and is currently assigned to the investigations unit.
"The Palmer Lake Police Department does not take this incident lightly," the department stated in the press release, "and we have taken every measure to ensure this is being investigated in an efficient and unbiased manor."
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is conducting an Internal Affairs investigation.
Saltzman posted a $25,000 bond and was released from the Douglas County Jail.