Resident returns constable’s gun lost while she relieved self in bushes

A constable attached to the St Ann’s Bay highway patrol must be counting her lucky stars after her Glock service pistol that she lost on Saturday was found by a resident and handed over to the police.

According to reports from the police, shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday, a woman constable attached to the St Ann’s Bay highway patrol was on duty with fellow officers along the Llandovery main road when she went into nearby bushes to relieve herself.

About six minutes after returning, she realised that her Glock service pistol with a magazine containing seventeen 9mm cartridges was missing. The area was searched, but the weapon was not found.

A report was subsequently made to her superiors.

The pistol was handed over to a justice of the peace and then passed on to the police on Sunday.

Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell, commander for St Ann, hailed the person responsible for the return of the weapon.

“I want to express my sincere and profound commendation and gratitude to the persons who were instrumental in the recovery and subsequent handing over of the weapon to the police,” Powell told The Gleaner on Sunday evening.

Under Section 41A of the Firearms Act, a person who loses a firearm through negligence shall be guilty of an offence, and on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000, or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for not more than 12 months.

It appears that the constable might be spared that possibility as Powell said the matter would be dealt with internally.

Carl Gilchrist