Reserve Cop Shoots Himself Through Hand, Hits Partner
GARY, Ind. (STMW) - An accidental shooting by a retired Gary police officer left him and his partner wounded as they rode together in a city car Saturday afternoon, Lt. Samuel Roberts said.
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Kenneth Shannon, 68, and Joe Leavy, 56, who serve on the city's reserve police force, are recovering from their injuries.
Sgt. William Fazekas will investigate the incident.
"It was an accident," Leavy said from his hospital room Monday afternoon. "We're all right."
Leavy was hit in his right side after the same bullet pierced Shannon's left hand, which he said was over the barrel of his new Glock 22, a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, the report states.
Shannon told Patrolman Shanesha Emmons he placed a loaded magazine into the newly purchased handgun then put his left hand over the barrel when the weapon discharged.
Leavy was driving and Shannon was a passenger in the car.
The two were in the 4600 block of Delaware Street about 2:45 p.m. when the shooting occurred.
Reserve officers, who volunteer their time to assist sworn officers in various police duties, are required to purchase their own weapons.
The Police Commission, which conducts testing and selection of the reserve force, insists the reserves use the same weapons issued to Gary police officers.
Both men were taken to the Methodist Hospitals Northlake campus for treatment of their injuries.
Shannon retired from the Gary Police Department more than 20 years ago and went to work for the Purdue University Calumet force.
Shannon now works for Gary Community School Corp. as a security guard at West Side High School.
Reserve officers have police powers only within city limits.
They receive training through the department and must volunteer in patrol monthly to remain active.
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