Capitol Police Officers Get Bathroom Training After Leaving Firearms in Restrooms
Officers left firearms in Capitol bathrooms three times this year, chief says.
— -- U.S. Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine says his officers are receiving potty training (get it?) after three separate incidents this year when officers left firearms unattended in the Capitol’s public restrooms.
“We are now providing additional training on what to do when you have to go to the bathroom,” Dine told lawmakers during a hearing today.
Dine said a first-time offender would be suspended for five days under current policy for leaving a weapon unattended, but he is considering toughening the penalty to 30 days or even potential termination for a first offense because of the seriousness a single error can carry.
“There are no excuses for these mistakes,” he stressed.
The chief appeared before the House Committee on Administration to discuss a number of troubling issues that have plagued his police force in the past year, including the widely publicized gyrocopter landing on the Capitol lawn on April 15.
Dine defended his officers’ actions during that event, telling lawmakers that his agency had little heads-up of the possibility Douglas Hughes - the pilot who was indicted Wednesday on six counts related to the incident - might be heading to the Capitol on his helicopter-like aircraft.
“I think the officers acted properly, heroically, swiftly and efficiently," Dine said.