City Announces Discipline In O'Connell Case

My Fox Spokane Biz
City Announces Discipline In O'Connell Case

**Press Release From City Of Spokane**

SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane Police Department Officer Barry O'Connell will serve a three-week suspension, as a result of an incident in April.  In that incident, O'Connell's young daughter shot herself with his service weapon at his home.

Interim Police Chief Scott Stephens concluded that O'Connell failed to comply with an SPD policy requiring officers to secure their duty weapons at home and civil service rules that specify officers can't be willfully careless or negligent with City property or engage in actions that might reasonably be expected to result in loss or injury to the City, the public, or prisoners or wards of the City.   

O'Connell also will be required to participate in an educational video about gun safety. Additionally, the discipline action also stipulates that an additional incident involving poor judgment will lead to termination.

Most Popular Stories

Obama To Visit Tornado-Ravaged OK Town

Obama To Visit Tornado-Ravaged OK Town
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will travel to tornado-ravaged Moore, Okla., on Sunday.    That's according to a White House official, who wasn't authorized to publicly discuss the trip ahead of the official announcement and requested anonymity.    A

I-5 bridge collapses into Wash. river, injuring 3

I-5 bridge collapses into Wash. river, injuring 3
By MANUEL VALDES and MIKE BAKERAssociated Press MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - An Interstate 5 bridge over a river collapsed north of Seattle Thursday evening, dumping two vehicles into the water and sparking a rescue effort by boats and divers as three injured people were pulled from the chilly

UPDATE: No Fatalities In I-5 Bridge Collapse

UPDATE: No Fatalities In I-5 Bridge Collapse
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - Authorities say there were no fatalities when an Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed.    The Thursday evening bridge failure dumped vehicles and people into the water.    Marcus Deyerin, a spokesman for the Northwest