Another Gun Goes Missing
By GABE WELLSWHEELING - Firearms have been stolen from both the Ohio County Sheriff's Department and the Wheeling Police Department, a West Virginia State Police official confirmed Friday.
A pistol was stolen Aug. 24 from the vehicle of an off-duty Ohio County deputy, according to State Police Sgt. Scott Adams. He confirmed that State Police are investigating that theft in addition to the Oct. 21 theft of an M-16 from the truck of an off-duty city officer.
Adams said there was no sign of forced entry into either of those officers' vehicles. He noted, however, that both men believe their vehicles were locked.
Adams does not believe the thefts are connected. He said they occurred nearly two months apart in different parts of the county and at different times of day. Adams said both cases are still being "actively" investigated, and he is confident law enforcement will recover both weapons.
He said he also is confident an arrest will be made in the theft of the Wheeling Police Department's assault rifle.
"There's good evidence in the Wheeling case," Adams said. "There was physical evidence in the vehicle. I'm confident that if we get a good suspect, we can tie him to it."
Adams acknowledged that the thefts are disturbing. He said, however, that the deputy and officer victimized in the thefts are quality law-enforcement officers. Adams does not believe either of the men violated their respective department policies by leaving the weapons in their personal vehicles, but he advises all officers to take weapons they are responsible for into their homes.
Adams said he suspects the thefts were committed by people who knew their victims were police officers. He said no other break-ins were reported in the area of either crime. He said the men may have been "targeted" because they are policemen.
"People get to know who you are," Adams said. "I've been here a while, and people know me. It's unfortunate. All the officers in the county need to be cautious in how they store their firearm."
Ohio County Sheriff Pat Butler said Friday that he could only confirm the pistol was stolen. He said he could not comment on an active investigation.
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wheelingwas
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11-09-09 1:50 PM
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Maybe we need a rule that there are always 2 cops together at all times - even when off duty.
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EllisWyatt
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11-07-09 7:27 PM
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Well, at worst, it was most likely an M-16 A2. It would have a semi-automatic mode, firing one shot at a time, and a 3-round burst mode. The military does not use fully automatic M-16s anymore. They were phased out to save on ammo. I doubt that Wheeling's finest have a fully automatic M-16. If so, it is probably Vietnam era surplus and does not work, anyway.
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weshatch
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11-07-09 12:54 PM
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First I think if the Police are calling it an M-16, then it is an M-16 AKA a machine gun and having a full auto weapon in the hands of a criminal is different than a semi auto weapon. While niether are good, an M-16 is worse. Second, maybe policy was not broken, but maybe policy should change. it is a bit like lock the barn after the horse has left, but it will helpin the future. Third, a handgun is also a different situation and I ask why a handgun was left in the car. last, this business about it being a personel issue is nuts. It is the theft of city / county property and the record should be public. if officer so&so had his patrol car stolen you would know it. I know that it happened befor ethe new chief, but what will be the policy going forward and what if any action was taken by the Sheriff? A SWAT officer is to be a cut above the rest. high level of training and responsibility and greater focus on his or her actions as well. People can die when they make a mistake.
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USMCDeathPimp
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11-07-09 12:28 PM
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Hey i know a deputy in Marshall county that wore his pistol belt while he cut his backyard grass. "Give a man a fish he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish he will throw his own dynamite in the lake."
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Reactionary
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11-07-09 12:03 PM
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'seeker---10:06 post--- To take out the Bad Guys, why else? And was it really a full auto M-16 or the semi-auto variant AR-15?....BIG DIFFERENCE! You one of those hoplophobes that don't even want the POLICE having firearms ?
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justmytake
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11-07-09 11:45 AM
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TruthSeeker....Why do they need an M16? Easy to answer...BECAUSE THE BAD GUYS HAVE THEM TOO! Yep, and they have one more thanks to Wheeling Police Dept.
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rover1958
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11-07-09 11:12 AM
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This is the generation of idiots that gave us the NorthWest pilots who slept through their flight and were nearly shot down!
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justmytake
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11-07-09 11:02 AM
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If your department should have provided a lock box. Why did the officer not buy his own? Why did the officer not refuse to carrry the weapon unsecured due to safety concerns? By published reports the weapon was not loaded. Uh, how much good will the weapon do unloaded? You are trying to polish a t urd. The officers in both cases screwed up, and instead of defending their lack of care, you should be pointing this out as a teaching point to ANYONE who owns a firearm that it is the INDIVIDUALS' responsibility to make sure the weapon is PROPERLY SECURED.
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justmytake
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11-07-09 10:56 AM
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HIllsman. If the officer was IN HIS VEHICLE the weapon would not have been stolen. An earlier report indicates the vehicle was PARKED OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE. I guess I may be just stupid here but I think taking the weapon into the house is the prudent thing to do. IN addition there are FREE GUN LOCKS that police departments will GIVE to anyone who asks. Would it have been too much to ask to secure the weapon to the seat fram with such a gun lock (these are cable locks). Again, there is no excuse for careless gun storage. If you disagree OK, but when someone is shot or killed with one of these weapons the department will write the check in the civil suit which will affect all us tax payers. When the SWAT team is called out the situation is already contained, or planned (such as a raid). The weapons should have been kept secured PERIOD. There is no excuse for failing to do so. Stuffing a fully automatic weapon under the seat of a vehicle unsecured is completely unacceptable.
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HillsMan
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11-07-09 10:21 AM
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TruthSeeker....Why do they need an M16? Easy to answer...BECAUSE THE BAD GUYS HAVE THEM TOO!
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HillsMan
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11-07-09 10:15 AM
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justmytake...What good would having the gun in a vault in the house if the SWAT member is out in his tuck or car at the mall, a friends house or area other than his house? Would sure scare a lot of people to see him going to Wal Mart with an M16 on his back so he doesn't have to worry about someone stealing it from his vehicle. Our departments should have provided a lock box to the officers but they didn't so why blame the officers. They were working with what they had to work with...If that their fault??
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TruthSeeker
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11-07-09 10:06 AM
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Why would the police need an M-16 to begin with?
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wheelingwkr
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11-07-09 10:03 AM
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So - has the policy relative to gun storage been updated or are gun going to continue to go missing? If you think people know you are a police officer and might target you for theft or whatever aren't you trained to anticipate those type of things and take precautions? Oops doesn't seem adequate when an M-16 is in the hands of a criminal in our community because the police weren't diligent enough in their duties. Doesn't inspire confidence.
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EllisWyatt
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11-07-09 9:57 AM
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When I was in the service, we were training at a post and someone misplaced their M-16 during the night. The post was LOCKED DOWN. No one was allowed on or off post and the DOD police at all gates blocked access and had their weapons hot. Every building and vehicle was to be searched but, fortunately, they found the rifle stored in an ammo shed at the range. Otherwise, the place would have been locked down for days. And that was for ONE M-16! A Wheeling Police Dept. M-16 goes missing and they finally get around to telling people? What happens in the meantime when the perp walks into a school or a store or even the police station and opens fire? They should roust every drug dealer, pimp, scumbag and lowlife in Warwood, North Wheeling, East Wheeling and the Island. My guess is it is in one of 3 places; someone's home (where they are hiding it), a pawnshop or on its' way to Miami via Huntington.
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justmytake
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11-07-09 9:54 AM
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HIllsman. How difficult would it be to bring the weapon into the house when he went inside? I own quite a few firearms and have them in full size gun vaults securely bolted to the floor of my home. That is how a responsible individual secures weapons. NO ONE should ever store a weapon in a vehicle EVER. It is an embarassment to these two agencies that they are so careless to do so. Both of these guys are SWAT guys and at least one is a FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR. Wow real professionals. Kinda scary if you ask me.
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Reactionary
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11-07-09 9:21 AM
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First of all, the local L.E. should be more mindful of weapons storage. Losing a rifle and handgun does not produce confidense in the public at large. That being said; who ever gets caught with stolen police arms is in BIG trouble, the sale of which only compounds the penalty. I'd really hate to be the poor, b*stard that gets caught with these weapons.
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HillsMan
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11-07-09 9:16 AM
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meyers...No sign of forced entry does not mean the truck was not locked. I know guys that can open a truck or car within seconds if they have the right tool. Why was it in the officers truck? Maybe because he was a SWAT member and they need to respond to a scene in a moments notice. It would be bad to have officers respond to a scene they were close to and then have to wait for the SWAT truck to bring the rifles, can you see where waiting for a truck to show up might just cost a life or possibly multiple lives. As far as secured in a case, it probably was. Yes, it should have been in a rifle lock box mounted in the truck to make it less easy to get to but guess what...the city does not provide that type of case, they are expensive. This officer was ready to respond from where ever he was and put his life on the line for others and you are trying to bash him because some low life decide to target him for a theft.
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Michele
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11-07-09 8:25 AM
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Just needed to know a few things..first,if this gun from Ohio County has been missing since Aug.24th,why are we learning about it now Pat Butler? If this rifle has been missing from the swat officer, is he or she still a swat officer? Are any disciplinary actions occuring for the two involved? Council, I haven't heard a thing from any of you or any city official except from our New Police Chief, which by the way you truly have your hands full with Moe, Larry and Curly of the City of Wheeling. As a Wheeling citizen and a TAX PAYER, I want answers. I want names and I want to know what is going on. Are my streets safe or not!! Police chief, shake them up!!! You look like you can help us. Don't let us turn into another Martins Ferry or Bridgeport on Entertainment Tonight!! Help Please!!!
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meyers
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11-07-09 7:21 AM
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If there was no force entry then his truck wasn't lock its that simple and why did he need a assault rifle in his truck in the fist place and was it secured in a case and these are question that should be asked all I can say he needs his weapon taken away from him like some little kids who hasn't followed the rule in secureing a weapon.Being on a swat team the rifle should of been in the respose truck in which they used when being summons to and area in which they are needed.
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homer1
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11-07-09 7:01 AM
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There is no need for concern. The M-16 will probably not function properly like they did in Viet Nam.
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Wondering
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11-07-09 6:35 AM
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Doesn't everyone carry an M-16 in their truck in WV?
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