TX deputy fired for letting waitress pose with rifle on police cruiser

From AP: In this photo provided by the Midland County, (Texas) Sheriff, an unidentified waitress at Twin Peaks Restaurant and Bar poses for a photo in Round Rock, Texas, Aug. 10, 2009. Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter fired one deputy and suspended three others without pay for the photos of a waitress holding a rifle sitting on a Midland County patrol car. Round Rock officers were dispatched to the restaurant after someone reported the waitress with the weapon, which had been given to her by one of the deputies who had been attending a training session near Austin. (AP Photo/Midland County Sheriff)

Comments

[Jellybean]

I'll bet it was reported by another (jealous) waitress.

[Chuck Rizzo]

She's hot.

[anarchanon]

She's... okay. A 5 of 10.

[AJ]

Duh move!! DUH!

[Pat, Sues boy]

...and Marvin's gun bashing in 3...2...1...

[T-Bone]

"This is my rifle, this is my gun... this is for killin, this is for fun..."

[Chuck Rizzo]

Anarchanon in college we'd have called her 5/10's. Of course that means her face is a 5 her bodies a 10.

[Chuck Rizzo]

Fractions give you many more options I feel.

[You're a Mean Drunk R2D2™]

Ok.... I need to get myself to that "Twin Peaks Restaurant".

I'm not focusing on the face, just the twin peaks. :)

[Bacon]

Pigs...another fine example of stand-up behavior.

[Carl Panzram]

The cop should of had her pose topless.

It sounds like once again bacon is jealous of the cops, the cops can get women and bacon can't.

[Keith G. in P.V.]

R2D2, I'm not sure "Twin Peaks" refers to a restaurant any more than "Hooters" refers to owls.

[Jay R.]

Nice, babe. I'd let her hold my gun anytime.

I don't understand the big tadoo.
Even with a little enhancement, there were no identifying marks to indicate which department or police cruiser it was, ...except that:

"The camera used to take the picture was also county issued". (REF:http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=14457)
The photo is now evidence.
Duh!

It was probably the photographer that got fired.

[FW]

Nice. Bet this cop was married too.

[Keith D]

The problem didn't come from the photo, the problem came when another off duty cop from the area called 911 because 3 cops who had been drinking heavily were in the parking lot with a waitress and a semi-automatic weapon in full view...

[D_man]

Hey there skinnie britches.

[Rob]

hey FW:
where does it say they'd been drinking heavially? And there were no laws being broken.

[Jane]

Sheriff Gary Painter told CBS 7: "Two of the officers were the designated drivers. Mr. Wells when he called in the complaint to Round Rock he had two concerns. That these officers would be getting into their squad car. They had two designated drivers assigned. At least they thought that far ahead. The other concern was the weapon."
.

[DCnNC]

What's the big deal? There isn't a magazine inserted, so no rounds in the weapon. She might as well been holding a toy.

[DCnNC]

OOps. Upon further review, a magazine is inserted. Dumb, but definitely not newsworthy.

[Tom Servo]

"What's the big deal? There isn't a magazine inserted, so no rounds in the weapon. She might as well been holding a toy."

'Knowledge' such as this is why someone thought up magazine disconnect safties. Thanks for ruining it for those of us who have a clue!

[Jay R.]

FW:
Yes, the reporting of the incident to 911 initiated the problem.

But the escallation to "tadoo" status was the evidence that showed the improper use of a police weapon, ...with magazine inserted. They had to fire someone.

I would expect a new policy memorandum on the proper use of department photographic equipment.

[Marvin]

But, there is a short clip in the rifle. How does that add to your fun, Tom?

[Chuck Rizzo]

Haha Marvin.

Maybe the officer should have inserted an extended magazine just for fun.

[aqua]

I can't help but wonder if she could put her ankles behind her head...

[Tom Servo]

"But, there is a short clip in the rifle. How does that add to your fun, Tom?"

That wasn't my point. DCnNC initially stated he didn't see a magazine in the rifle, therefor he thought the gun was harmless and as safe as a toy. This is not only incorrect, it's a stupid and reckless way of thinking. If an AR-15 has a round in the chamber and the trigger is pulled, it WILL FIRE even with the magazine removed. In other words, removing the magazine does not necessarily unload a firearm. Far too many people think it does and many shots have been fired from their 'unloaded' guns. That has lead to many companies installing magazine disconnect safeties on their guns.

Why would such a safety device be a bad thing? First, people who rely on such things tend to assume any gun won't fire with the magazine removed. Do a quick Internet search and you'll find dozens of stories about people having a negligent discharge while demonstrating how their gun won't fire without the magazine in it. There was a story on here about LEO who did this very thing not too long ago. Ironically, these are usually the same people who caused the additional safety to be installed in the first place. Second, it's yet another device which can fail and disable a weapon. Third, it adds weight, length, and creep to the trigger pull. This third point isn't a safety issue but it's something I shouldn't have to put up with because some people can't use that chunk of tissue located between their ears.

For anyone who didn't want to read everything I wrote above (I wouldn't blame you) here is a short summary:

1. Removing a magazine from a firearm does not necessarily mean it is unloaded.
2. If you think it does:
a. You are an idiot.
b. You should not handle a firearm.
c. You are "professional enough" to carry a "Glock .40 ."

[Hummer?]

holy hotness! I hope that cop got to alteast do a 'lil motorboating for that!

Bet he wouldnt change a thing.

[tgif]

You said negligent discharge.

[Brenda Spencer]

I trust a loaded rifle in the hands of a stacked waitress more than I would one in the hands of a loaded cop. This is just another example of why government employees should not be allowed to have firearms. They simply are not responsible adults.

[White Fang]

Well, well, well . . . . It looks like the Gun Owners Party has found its VP candidate to balance the Palin ticket for the 2012 election.

[Jo Jo]

Tom says:
" There was a story on here about LEO who did this very thing not too long ago. Ironically, these are usually the same people who caused the additional safety to be installed in the first place." (take note of sentence #2).

Therefore, Tom:

a. You are an idiot.
b. You should not breed (especially not with Brenda Spencer).
c. You like kitties and shiny things.

[Tom Servo]

Jo Jo, please explain. Your message makes no sense whatsoever.

[msske]

How did this photo harm anyone? Talk about an over reaction.

[Shifty]

It lowers the public's trust in law enforcement and it is unprofessional. And giving a loaded firearm to a civilian (in a non-training environment) is a huge liability issue.

[Davey Smith]

"You said negligent discharge."

Are you talking about the gun or sex?

[Jay R.]

The public would not have found out about Abu Grhaib except for the evidence, ...photos.

I trust a loaded rifle in the hands of a stacked waitress or in the hands of a loaded cop. But, ....not a camera.

Yes, we should act as if there are camera's everywhere. They are.

But government owned cameras should have safety's, including a breathalizer interlock.
Think before you shoot.

[Cager]

It never ceases to amaze me how stupid government employees can be.

[Jack Burton]

You don't give a loaded weapon to a civilian. Just because a hottie asks you to hold your gun doesn't mean you should. Just a bad idea.

[Jman]

"This is my rifle, this is my gun...." If she asks to hold your gun, by all means, proceed. And take pictures. If she asks to hold your rifle, refrain.

[Drasil]

I still haven't figured out why cops, in a police car, are getting drunk in a public establishment. I think at best it's sending the wrong signal to bar patrons. Of course, it IS Texas we're talking about here.

[rtm]

You cannot fix stupid, just look at the Obama death pamphlet at the VA.

Young lady seemed attractive.

[ralph]

That waitress would make a great Postal worker.

[superacidjax]

The magazine itself doesn't confirm that the weapon was, in fact, loaded. After coming from training, the magazines could very well have been empty. Besides, loaded or not, the issue isn't the weapon, per se, it's the possibility of a problem due to the fact that they were at a bar where things could have gotten out of hand. I don't thinking firing was necessary, but a suspension would certainly be in order. But, regardless of the punishment, it IS appropriate for a department to have a strict response to a misuse of equipment. I trust the department's response in this case. I'm glad that there was some accountability.

[loki]

The rifle looks loaded

[Jay R.]

Sure, any weapon should be treated as if it is potentially loaded.

But the camera certainly was, ...and I assume the nut behind the eyepiece as well.

[Vanda Purvis]

My name is Vanda Purvis better known as the waitress pictured above "Bambi." I grew up around guns, my whole life I've owned weapons. I am an expret marksman and as a matter of fact, I own my own AR15...(I think every Texas girl should!) the exact gun I am pictured with. Its sad that off duty, unintoxicated, gentleman can't come and have a good time without things blowing wayyyyy out of proportion. They have an extremely tough profession and lets be honest, if they handed that gun to the Mayor for a picture this wouldn't be news but because they handed it to little blonde me, everyone is all up in arms over it. BOLOGNA!! Go to my facebook, myspace or vandapurvis.com.... this is not the first picture I've taken with a gun.

[Peter Swanson]

Wow, I just looked at Miss Purvis's website.
Anyone who said she wasn't beautiful needs to take a look.
So couple that with her knowledge of firearms, and articulate posting above, and I think we may well have found the perfect woman.

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