A California police officer has been fired after a video showed him shooting a colleague during a “horseplay” incident inside a department parking garage.
On Thursday, the Pasadena Police Department made public footage of an officer using loaded firearms in “unsafe and out-of-policy horseplay” when he unintentionally shot a coworker.
“It’s juvenile, unacceptable behavior at the highest level on the part of these officers,” Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo told KABC News.
The incident took place in the Pasadena Police Department’s parking garage in September. This week, police released a video in which an officer pulls his gun, points it at another officer seated in a patrol car, and then puts it back in his holster.
According to investigators, the officer in the patrol car then pulled out his gun. Suddenly, it discharged, sending a bullet through the windshield and hitting the other officer in the shoulder. The injured officer has since recovered and is still working for the police department.
“Horseplay and/or failure to adhere to safety rules and standards of professional conduct will not be tolerated,” Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris said in a video that shows the shooting. “This regretful conduct is not consistent with the expectations and service commitments of this department.”
Harris stated that the investigation is still ongoing, which he explained is why they didn’t make the video public sooner. According to Gordo, authorities have sent the criminal investigation to the district attorney’s office for review.
“To the people of Pasadena, I say I’m sorry that this occurred. I’m sorry that these officers behaved this way but understand that it’s not acceptable and the chief has assured me that it’s not going to happen again,” Gordo said.