Tuesday, December 30, 1997
Officer injured in realistic 'gunplay'
By ROY A. JONES II Regional Editor
BIG SPRING - Police Chief Lonnie Smith said Monday he does
not plan to stop realistic firearms training despite a recent
accident that seriously injured a patrolman.
Smith said a lapse in safety procedures, not the training itself,
was to blame for the injury suffered by Cpl. Wayne Wright on Dec.
17.
Wright was struck in the eye by a .50-caliber paint ball during
a joint training exercise with Cornell Corrections personnel,
and has not yet been cleared to return to work, the chief said.
"The extent of the damage is still being evaluated,"
Smith said. He added that Wright's condition has improved somewhat
since the accident but the chances for a full recovery won't be
known for several more days.
"The training is good, but I'm sure we will emphasize
safety even more next time we do it," he said.
The accident occurred at the training facility, which is jointly
operated by the city and the private corrections facility. Officers
from both departments were involved in an exercise in which the
officers were armed with guns powered by carbon dioxide.
Protective equipment, including safety glasses, had been issued
to officers, but Wright was not wearing his glasses at the time
of the accident, Smith said.
Wright received emergency treatment at Scenic Mountain Medical
Center before being transported to Midland Memorial Hospital,
where he was held overnight for observation.
Smith said paint guns provide a realistic, non-lethal version
of firearms training that could well save an officer's life, so
he is reluctant to suspend the training.
"He knows what caused the injury. It shouldn't have happened,"
he said.
He declined comment on whether Wright will face disciplinary
action if and when he is able to return to duty, but said, "We're
planning on him conducting some in-service training - not just
for the police department but for other city employees. He can
speak first-hand about safety and its importance at all times."
Wright joined the department as a jailer in 1989 and later
worked in the identification section before the department sponsored
his training to become a certified peace officer.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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