SWAT Team cop forgets to pick up gun after stand-off
SANDY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Shannon McRae went out for her Saturday morning run and found a weapon in the road -- a rifle, property of the Salt Lake County Sheriff Office's SWAT team.
"This is something that is devastating to us in law enforcement," said Levi Hughes of the Sheriff's Office.
Hughes said M4 assault rifle was left in the road last night after the swat team was called out on a standoff in White City. The standoff ended peacefully, but somehow, just a few houses down the street where the swat team was breaking down their gear, one of the veteran team members forgot his own rifle.
"This mistake...we own it...we know we made an error and we will correct it," said Hughes.
"I'm just grateful I was the one to find the gun and get it back to them safely," said McRae.
McRae said this could have been a deadly situation because the family living next to her has four kids. Imagine a loaded assault rifle found just feet away from their front door.
The Sheriff's Office acknowledged this could have ended tragically, and authorities are doing what they can prevents future errors like this one.
Hughes said, "And this type of mistake...devastates our team and can assure that every action that can be taken by our department and the other agencies involved to do training to make sure this never happens again...will take place."
SANDY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Shannon McRae went out for her Saturday morning run and found a weapon in the road -- a rifle, property of the Salt Lake County Sheriff Office's SWAT team.
"This is something that is devastating to us in law enforcement," said Levi Hughes of the Sheriff's Office.
Hughes said M4 assault rifle was left in the road last night after the swat team was called out on a standoff in White City. The standoff ended peacefully, but somehow, just a few houses down the street where the swat team was breaking down their gear, one of the veteran team members forgot his own rifle.
"This mistake...we own it...we know we made an error and we will correct it," said Hughes.
"I'm just grateful I was the one to find the gun and get it back to them safely," said McRae.
McRae said this could have been a deadly situation because the family living next to her has four kids. Imagine a loaded assault rifle found just feet away from their front door.
The Sheriff's Office acknowledged this could have ended tragically, and authorities are doing what they can prevents future errors like this one.
Hughes said, "And this type of mistake...devastates our team and can assure that every action that can be taken by our department and the other agencies involved to do training to make sure this never happens again...will take place."