PBA chief accidentally shot gun in TPD headquarters

The president of the Big Bend police union accidentally fired his weapon while he was cleaning it inside Tallahassee Police Department headquarters.

No one was struck by the bullet, according to internal-affairs documents released Wednesday by TPD.

The report says that on Sept. 24, Lt. Steve Slade was cleaning his Glock .40-caliber backup handgun in his second-floor office and attempted to clear a round from the chamber to unload it when it went off.

The bullet went through the gun’s loaded magazine Slade was holding, bounced off his desk and through a fanny pack before heading through a wall.It crossed TPD Capt. Elizabeth Dillon’s office before becoming lodged in the wall.

The internal investigation found the cause of the accidental shooting was operator error. It also found Slade had not complied with general orders involving weapons. Slade was cleaning the gun after he'd returned from his bi-annual firearm qualifications.

“Failing to utilize a clearing barrel or other safe background and touching the trigger while unloading a handgun are not in compliance with TPD training,” the IA report says.

The investigation found Slade was in compliance with a general order involving firearms qualifications. The report also acknowledged there is no specific requirement in TPD policies that firearms be handled in a safe manner at all times.

Slade, president of the Big Bend chapter of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, filed a lawsuit last week against TPD Chief Michael DeLeo, alleging he moved to discipline Slade without notifying him in detail of the reasons why or the proposed punishment, as required under state law.

The law-enforcement officers' bill of rights, included in statutes, says officers must be notified of the disciplinary action sought against them and the reasoning behind it before it's carried out. The provision applies to discipline involving suspension, loss of pay, demotion or dismissal. Officers must be offered a chance to refute the investigation’s findings.

DeLeo, through a spokesman, said he could not comment on the pending lawsuit.

A Nov. 5 memo from DeLeo to Slade notified the lieutenant that an internal investigation was complete and that he was found not in compliance with general orders involving weapons. He was found in compliance with a general order involving firearms qualifications.

The lawsuit says that because of the Nov. 5 notification, "one must conclude that his discipline consists of sanctions consisting of 'suspension with loss of pay, demotion or dismissal.' "

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.