CBS4 Uncovers Second Negative Gun Incident Involving FIU Officer
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A Florida International University police officer remained on leave Friday night, after angrily firing shots into the air at a gun range while surrounded by fellow officers.
CBS4 News has learned a second FIU police officer had a negative incident with a gun, just 40-minutes later at the same gun range. Also, the police department that owns and runs the gun range did not know about it, until CBS4 called them.
WATCH Natalia Zea's report, click here.
For police officers, weapons training is a basic part of the job. Florida International University's police force is no exception.
Their officers train every semester often here at the Miami-Dade Police Department's Public Safety Training Institute in Doral, but last week an officer's temper led to what could have been a deadly situation.
Alex Casas:
"One of our FIU police officers, discharged his firearm in the air, not in part of a training exercise," explained Alex Casas.
CBS4 News learned that FIU north campus police officer Joe Mesa allegedly fired shots into the air, surrounded by more than a dozen fellow officers, while they all trained at the range.
Officer Mesa was relieved of duty while Internal Affairs investigates.
"I recognize how serious this is and I understand the concern that comes out of this incident and I can assure you we do not tolerate this type of behavior," said Chief Casas. "This just seems to be an isolated action by an isolated individual."
But CBS4 News has learned another FIU officer improperly fired a gun that same morning, roughly 40-minutes after Officer Mesa fired shots.
Sources said FIU officer, Sonia Meneses fired her gun, unintentionally while cleaning it, and that bullet went into officer Mesa's backpack.
"I'm with CBS4 News," stated CBS4's Natalia Zea. "I'm just trying to speak with you about the incident that happened at the range the other day. What I'm hearing is that this was an accident, YOUR situation was an accident."
"I'm sorry, I'm not going to speak to you right now, I'm so sorry," Meneses told Zea.
Zea spoke off camera with Officer Mesa about what went wrong at the shooting range that day. He admitted he fired some shots into the air, he said he was frustrated with himself. And he expressed concern that Officer Meneses incident was not made public until now. He said he was standing just a few feet away from her and could have been hit.
An FIU spokesperson would only confirm there was an accidental discharge of a weapon, but that's more than FIU police apparently told the Miami-Dade Police Department which owns and runs the gun range.
MDPD officials said FIU police notified them about Officer Mesa's shots, but not about Officer Meneses' accidental shot. MDPD only learned about it when CBS4 News called for a comment about the issue.
CBS4 News asked FIU's president his thoughts on Officer Mesa's incident, and he said he expects a full investigation and has confidence in the department.
"They are very highly trained and both of my kids went to FIU. It's a very safe campus."
Once the Internal Affairs investigation is over, the State Attorney's Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement will look into Officer Mesa's case.
As for Officer Meneses...
"I'm working, you're distracting me," she told Zea.
She remains an active member of the FIU police force.
READ MORE: FIU Police Chief Addresses Alleged Temper-Fueled Gunfire By Officer
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