Members of the U.S. Capitol Police force are getting some additional training on how to handle their weapons.
In restrooms.
That's according to U.S. Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine, who told a House Administration Committee that the action comes after three officers left their weapons behind in restrooms in separate incidents just this year already.
"We are now providing additional training on what to do when you have to go the bathroom," Dine told the House Administration Committee, according to a report from Fox News.
TRENDING: To DEI for
The guns were abandoned in one incident involving a member of the USCP detail assigned to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., another incident involving an officer on the security detail for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and a third officer abandoned a weapon in a restroom at the police headquarters.
In the first case, the officer left a Glock and a magazine in a holder for toilet seat covers, and in the case involving Boehner's detail, a child was nearby, the report said. They date between January and April of this year.
"We're all human. Everyone has to go to the bathroom," said House Administration Committee Chairwoman Candice Miller, R-Mich. "This is one of the bigger concerns we've had since I've been here on the Hill."
Added Rep. Rodney David, R-Ill., "I would venture common sense will prevail and no officer will ever again leave a firearm in a toilet-cover dispenser again in the Capitol complex. Hopefully, you didn't have to put a specific provision into your training manual."
The report from Chad Pergram quoted Rep. Rich Nugent, R-Fla., saying, "Controlling your weapon … that's like rule No. 1."
Dine confirmed that the officers who lost track of their guns were disciplined, but the two who were on the security details remain in those positions.
Nugent wasn't that understanding.
"It sets bad precedent," he said, according to Fox. "You don't give confidence to the people you're protecting or the guys on the street or others in the department. What are the greater breaches out there that we don't know about?"
Other questions from members of Congress included those about a gyrocopter that landed on the Capitol lawn last month.
Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., wondered why it wasn't shot out of the sky. The pilot is facing several charges for violating airspace regulations.
A bigger problem with which the Capitol Police must deal is the case involving the shooting death of Miriam Carey.
WND has reported multiple times over the last year how she was shot and killed after she approached the White House, then turned around and drove away.
Cops chased her, shot her and killed her.
Miriam Carey's sister, Amy, told WND there are "so many" questions unanswered.
An attorney representing the family, Eric Sanders, said it was simply a coverup of officers' actions.
He has explained:
- Carey mistakenly drove into a White House entrance at 15th and E Street, which is not against the law.
- She was not stopped by the Secret Service agents manning the gate, who apparently were not paying attention.
- Carey should have been stopped then and there, but guards were virtually asleep on the job.
- She then made a U-turn and tried to leave, which is also not against the law. Agents should not have stopped her then.
- But an off-duty officer in civilian clothes tried to stop her from leaving by placing a metal rack in front of her car and leaning on it.
- Once Carey did leave, for some unknown reason, agents and officers followed her, which was technically unlawful search and seizure, and certainly, he insisted, a violation of her Fourth Amendment rights. Eventually they fired on her and killed her.
Sanders believes agents and officers pursued Carey not because she broke any law, but because their pride was hurt when she refused to stop before leaving the White House gate. He noted she was killed two miles away from the White House.
Several lawsuits already have been brought over the fatal shooting.