Amtrak Cop: Worn-Out Holster Led to Foot-Shooting

January 22, 2010

  • January 22, 2010 at 11:18 am
    Noonie McWhorter says:
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    I can’t help but wonder how something like this reaches this point — what motivated James Bullard to sue Amtrak? I’m curious about the events preceding the lawsuit.

  • January 23, 2010 at 12:17 pm
    boonedoggle says:
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    “I can’t help but wonder how something like this reaches this point — what motivated James Bullard to sue Amtrak? I’m curious about the events preceding the lawsuit”

    The most important event preceding the lawsuit is called FELA

  • January 22, 2010 at 1:15 am
    wudchuck says:
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    um… maybe the lead was not properly lined! or he tried to get an order of fries and the lady in question was waiting too long for the big mac… either way, why is he suing? because if she grabbed teh gun and it went off, it still would have hit him in the foot!

  • January 22, 2010 at 1:49 am
    Mongoose says:
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    Even if the holster is worn, how does that make it the fault of Amtrack. If a woman removes the weapon from a holster where was his attention at the time? Secondly how does a worn holster make removing a weapon from a holster negligence? Aren’t weapons supposed to be withdrawn from a holster?

    My guess is he tried to cut the line, she got pissed off and took matters into her own hands.

  • January 22, 2010 at 2:02 am
    Jon says:
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    L.E.O holsters are designed to not allow someone to grab and pull. The trigger guard is completely concealed so you can’t just squeeze the trigger either.

    With most LEO hip/thigh holsters the user needs to push down on the weapon, and then forward before the holster will release the pistol, allowing it to be drawn.

    Unless the woman got very lucky, the cop had a shoddy holster.

    Still not sure this is grounds of or a neligence suit basis, though.

  • January 22, 2010 at 2:22 am
    GMAB says:
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    If the holster was worn out – and he knew that it was (by his own admission since he reportedly approached AMTRACK in the first place) and that the worn condition posed a threat… Why didn’t he replace it on his own and submit the bill to his employer for the sake of safety – his own and the general publics?

    The guy got overpowered by a woman – probably half his size and he wants someone else to pay for his embarrassment

    Probably a Barny Fife anyway – good thing she didn’t wrench it away and start shootin’ up the place!!!

    You know he’s going to get work comp – he just wants more for his own stupidity…

  • January 22, 2010 at 2:46 am
    temblor says:
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    Nah, see he wore it out practising his fast draw, which he was sure he would need someday as a subway guard.

    Also, aren’t pistols normally secured by a strap over the handle?

    He’s just another person the personal injury attorneys have convinced that, no matter how stupid they are, someone owes them money for it.

    I guess Amtrak’s negligence is letting people ride on their trains?

    Yes, he’ll get WC but that normally prohibits suing your employer.

  • January 22, 2010 at 4:19 am
    Bob says:
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    The holster may have been worn or may have been so old, it didn’t have up-to- date retention capability. Still, the officer should have been capable of preventing the woman from seizing his firearm. In my State, officers are trained in weapon retention. I can’t speak for New York…maybe he forgot his training or never received any?



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