Officer accidentally shoots self on range

Yes, They're Still At It

Police union head may have nerve damage to hand but is expected to return in July

Rob Shaw, Canwest News Service

Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2008

VICTORIA -A police officer shot and injured himself with his handgun while training at a firing range earlier this month, the department confirmed Monday.

Sgt. Sean Plater shot himself in the hand accidentally May 1 at a shooting range on the Malahat, Sgt. Grant Hamilton said.

Plater, who is president of the Victoria police union, was re-certifying on his semi-automatic Glock pistol, which is mandatory in Victoria twice a year, Hamilton said.

"I don't know the circumstances of how it happened," Hamilton said. "He may have nerve damage to the injured hand, and we anticipate he may return to work in a couple of months." The bullet pierced the side of his hand below the pinkie, Hamilton said.

The RCMP and Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner are investigating because the incident involved the discharge of a police firearm.

Plater is a 17-year veteran of the force and works in the department's crime-prevention division. He received a medal for bravery for pursuing armed robber Stephen Reid in a shootout in 1999.

"It is a minor injury, but we take it seriously," Hamilton said. The department's firearms expert is reviewing training procedures, he said.

"We fire over 200,000 rounds per year and over 3,500 hours of actual range training time, and this is the first time we've had an accidental shooting by a member at the range," Hamilton said.

Police Insp. Phyllis Senay shot herself in the thigh with her handgun while getting out of her car in 2005.

Senay, 49, has not returned to work, although she received Workers Compensation until March 25, 2007, and was then was put back on the Victoria police payroll."

See. Firing ranges are far more dangerous to police than chasing robbery suspects. So is getting out of ones car, for that matter. Inspector Senay's negligence was in no way shape or form considered negligence, hence her ability to collect workmen's comp, and it is a virtual certainty that Sgt. Plater will as well.

ACCIDENTS will happen, ya know.