TexasCHLforum.com

In what is perhaps the last word on this case, the officer who fired the shot that triggered the sprinklers received a 10-day unpaid suspension. Another officer who was involved received a letter of reprimand.

On Wednesday, [City of Galveston Police Chief Kenneth] Mack said Quiroga and Owens wouldn’t be asked to reimburse the city for any of the damages.

He also said the punishments would probably not undermine either officer’s chance for promotion within the department.

I can't quite get over the irony. If I tried to bring an AirSoft gun into that courthouse, I would probably find myself face-down, wearing handcuffs and with a deputy sitting on my head.

http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewc ... 3a7f3d922c

- Jim

Update: Damage now estimated at $170,000. No criminal charges filed. No one will be disciplined until after the holidays. Typical Galveston go-along, get-along.

I talked to a police officer who was affected by this incident. Aside from the structural damage, a lot of irreplaceable things like diplomas and award certificates hanging on walls were damaged.

Damage was caused by a "Soft Air" pellet rifle. Good thing it wasn't hard air. That sounds dangerous.

http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... 6fb82a5679

- Jim

Follow-up: Accoridng to a story in the Galveston County Daily News, officers were intentionally target shooting at a cardboard box when this incident occurred. The damage may be covered by insurance, except for a $5000 deductible.

http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... 7752c5e98a

http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... 8c2c8994ef

- Jim

Liberty wrote:Sheesh, Can they make the folks that actually did the damage pay for it?

I don't know. Most people don't have $100,000 in assets that can be seized in a judgment. It's also remotely possible that this incident could have occurred in performance of the officer's duties, or be an accident.

Then it's not clear whose fault it was that the sprinkler valve room was locked.

- Jim

According to a story in the Galveston County Daily News, a police officer in the county courthouse shot a pellet rifle at the ceiling and triggered a fire sprinkler. The flow continued for 31 minutes because access to the room where the cutoff valve was located was restricted. Approximately 500 gallons of water escaped, causing damage estimated at $100,000 or more.

This courthouse opened last year, IIRC, and cost more than $100 million to build.

http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... 695fa52f16

- Jim