A Denver Sheriff Division firearms teacher unintentionally fired a rifle into his neighbor’s kitchen in August, based on a disciplinary letter launched Wednesday.
Deputy David Steckman might be suspended for 14 days over the incident, based on the Dec. 14 letter. Steckman, a firearms teacher and 27-year worker of the sheriff’s division, unintentionally fired the gun whereas within the bed room of his Commerce Metropolis house on Aug. 21.
The bullet shot by means of his bed room wall and into his neighbor’s kitchen, based on the disciplinary letter. Steckman instructed investigators he was working towards learn how to deal with the rifle if it had been to malfunction and going by means of the steps of a “malfunction drill.” The rifle was loaded and had a spherical within the chamber, however Steckman didn’t verify the chamber, and when he accomplished the drill and pulled the rifle’s set off, the gun fired.
Steckman stated he instantly put the rifle down and went to verify on his neighbors, then referred to as Commerce Metropolis police to report the incident. Nobody was harm. Steckman was issued a ticket for illegally discharging a weapon. Sheriff’s division management was alerted concerning the incident later that night time.
“That Deputy Steckman didn’t carry out primary firearm security measures earlier than tampering with a rifle in a residential space is just alarming,” the disciplinary letter reads. “In brief, his inattention signifies that he was careless in his dealing with of a firearm…Moreover, Deputy Steckman is a firearms teacher on the vary for DSD — that he failed to stick to (and) observe primary firearm precautions is egregious.”
Steckman couldn’t be reached for remark Thursday. He instructed investigators that he was “extraordinarily grateful that nobody was injured,” and that he has since moved his weapons to the basement of his house.
The 14-day suspension will begin Jan. 30.
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