Representative image from Wikimedia Commons. Probably not the actual guy who blasted himself in the foot.
A recent incident involving a uniformed Secret Service officer in Washington, D.C., has raised concerns about safety protocols within the agency. On the evening of September 22, 2024, the officer accidentally discharged his firearm while on duty close to the Israeli ambassador’s residence near 32nd and Fessenden Streets in northwest Washington, DC.
The agency, tasked with protecting some of the world’s most powerful individuals, has been flying more red flags in recent months than a Chinese military parade.
This “negligent discharge” resulted in the officer literally shooting himself in the foot. Fortunately, his injuries were not life-threatening, and he was promptly taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.
The officer, who is part of the Uniformed Division tasked with protecting foreign diplomatic missions, was handling his service weapon when the mishap occurred. No other individuals were harmed during the incident, and an internal investigation is now underway to determine the exact circumstances. Initial reports had misidentified the individual as a special agent. The Secret Service clarified that the officer involved was a member of the Uniformed Division. The identity of the officer involved in the shooting is not being released to the press at this time.
‼️‼️ A Secret Service agent accidentally shot himself last night. The injury is not life-threatening.
The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. in upper NW neighborhood in D.C. The USSS says no one else was injured, and the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility plans… pic.twitter.com/XI7x986HKm
A recent incident involving a uniformed Secret Service officer in Washington, D.C., has raised concerns about safety protocols within the agency. On the evening of September 22, 2024, the officer accidentally discharged his firearm while on duty close to the Israeli ambassador’s residence near 32nd and Fessenden Streets in northwest Washington, DC.
The agency, tasked with protecting some of the world’s most powerful individuals, has been flying more red flags in recent months than a Chinese military parade.
This “negligent discharge” resulted in the officer literally shooting himself in the foot. Fortunately, his injuries were not life-threatening, and he was promptly taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.
The officer, who is part of the Uniformed Division tasked with protecting foreign diplomatic missions, was handling his service weapon when the mishap occurred. No other individuals were harmed during the incident, and an internal investigation is now underway to determine the exact circumstances. Initial reports had misidentified the individual as a special agent. The Secret Service clarified that the officer involved was a member of the Uniformed Division. The identity of the officer involved in the shooting is not being released to the press at this time.
‼️‼️ A Secret Service agent accidentally shot himself last night. The injury is not life-threatening.
The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. in upper NW neighborhood in D.C. The USSS says no one else was injured, and the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility plans… pic.twitter.com/XI7x986HKm
The incident comes at a time when the Secret Service has been under scrutiny following several high-profile security lapses. Some reports suggest that recent reductions in firearms training frequency, especially post-COVID, may be contributing to such negligent discharges.
An officer from the Uniformed Division trains on a weapons range. Image Credit: United States Secret Service
Susan Crabtree, a correspondent with Real Clear Politics, has reported on information she received from a member of the Secret Service community. She says,
“The agency previously required all gun carriers within the National Capital Region to qualify monthly, but the training is less frequent now.”
She noted being told that special agents assigned to the presidential protective division and vice presidential protective division still have to qualify monthly, but others do not.
—
Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States
Scrubba Wash Bag
Our ultra-portable washing machine makes your journey easier. This convenient, pocket-sized travel companion allows you to travel lighter while helping you save money, time and water.
Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
COMMENTS
There are
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.