Police recruit shoots self in thigh

A police recruit undergoing Field Training Program with the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office landed in the hospital after accidentally shooting himself with his own service pistol inside their office yesterday morning.

Investigators identified the recruit as PO1 Nap Kelly Segara, 26, who shot himself in the right thigh while holstering his Norinco .45 cal. pistol.

 SPO4 Alex Dacua of the Homicide Section said police recruit PO1 Julious Ceasar Siarez reported Segara loaded his gun and was putting it back into his holster when it fired.  The bullet went through his thigh to hit the floor.

Segara was rushed by his companions to Cebu City Medical Center.

 City police director Patrocinio Comendador said no investigation will be conducted against Segara because it was an accident and no one else was hurt.

But to avoid a repeat of the accident, Comendador wants Segara to undergo gun safety and gun proficiency training as it was not clear yet if policemen undergoing FTP are given such lessons.

Last month, two FTP policemen assigned to the barangay Luz barangay hall were injured after one of their guns accidentally went off and hit them both.  Reports said one of them was playing with the gun at the time.

For safety precautions, Comendador will be issuing directives to policemen not to enter offices in the CCPO with loaded firearms. 

This was the same directive issued by former CCPO director Supt. Melvin Gayotin after the death of a policewoman who was accidentally shot by a policeman who was unloading his gun prior to a conference at the Administration Section.  — Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP