Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Police officers spend their careers warning the public not to play around with firearms. Apparently, that message occasionally needs to be repeated in the squad room, too.
The Pasadena Police Department has released surveillance video showing a September 2025 incident in which an officer was seriously injured after what Chief Gene Harris described as “horseplay” involving loaded firearms inside a department parking structure.
According to the department and reporting from Police1 and ABC 7 Los Angeles, the incident occurred around 6:20 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2025, just before officers were set to begin their shifts.
The video shows a patrol vehicle pulling into the garage where two officers are standing near another vehicle. One of the officers then draws his handgun and points it at the arriving officer in what investigators later described as horseplay.
After several seconds, the officer holsters his weapon. What happened next turned a bad decision into a potentially deadly one.
According to Chief Harris, the officer sitting in the patrol vehicle also drew his firearm. Unlike the first officer, however, his gun discharged. The round traveled through the vehicle’s windshield and struck the other officer in the shoulder. Fortunately, the wounded officer survived.
The department characterized the incident as resulting from “unsafe and out-of-policy horseplay involving loaded firearms.”
Let that sink in for a second. Not a high-risk warrant service. Not a foot chase. And, not a violent suspect. A police parking garage.
Chief Harris discussed the incident.
The shooting resulted from officers engaged in unsafe and out-of-policy horseplay involving loaded firearms,” Harris said in the department’s critical incident video.
The chief called the officers’ actions unacceptable and said the department has taken disciplinary action following an internal administrative investigation. Officials have not disclosed the specific discipline imposed or whether any officers were placed on leave.
The investigation remains ongoing, with both Pasadena Police and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office reviewing the incident.
For firearms instructors and supervisors, the video serves as a painful reminder that complacency can be just as dangerous as a criminal suspect.
The four fundamental firearm safety rules don’t take a day off because you’re in uniform. In fact, they’re arguably more important when officers are around one another in informal settings where vigilance tends to slip.
Most officers watching the video will probably have the same reaction: “What were they thinking?” That’s a fair question.
Law enforcement professionals are held to a higher standard because they carry firearms every day and are entrusted with extraordinary responsibilities. Incidents like this not only put officers at risk, but also damage public confidence in the profession.
The good news is that the injured officer survived. The bad news is that the outcome could have been far worse.
One slightly different angle, one ricochet, one round striking somewhere else, and this story could have ended with a funeral instead of an internal affairs investigation.
So we’re curious: Have you ever witnessed unsafe gun handling or horseplay involving firearms in law enforcement? How was it handled, and what should the consequences be when an officer violates the most basic firearm safety rules?
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
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