A Philadelphia Police Sergeant is under investigation by the department after he allegedly tried to anonymously turn in street guns that he obtained by “buying the weapons from neighborhood kids in an effort to get them off the streets.” His iterations may have been good, but the fact is that purchasing or taking possession of a handgun from someone who is not an FFL or your father or grandfather (or son or grandson) is a violation of Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act. A non-licensee can loan an officer, or someone with a PALTC a handgun, but if the firearm changes title, that’s a different ball of wax.
They wouldn’t cut you or me any slack if we got busted doing this. The officer in question seems to be in disbelief he’d be held to the same standard. Sorry Sergeant Ruff, but these are the “common sense” gun laws your Police Commissioner and Mayor support, and there’s no exception to the law for good intentions, and none for individual police.
Oh yeah? Imagine how they treat people who aren’t even cops.
Imagine that – a cop that doesn’t know the law!
Merle
“They wouldn’t cut you or me any slack if we got busted doing this. The officer in question seems to be in disbelief he’d be held to the same standard”
He is in a position of public trust, if convicted he should get TWICE the sentence and no parole or probation, and never be allowed a position of public trust again.
Sam
I second that.
Meh, I see some paid administrative leave in this guy’s future then a deal cut by the FOP on his behalf.
…Unless he’s really pissed someone off in IA. Internal bureaucratic politics can be a bitch.
He has some history, too:
http://ia600402.us.archive.org/5/items/gov.uscourts.paed.339069/gov.uscourts.paed.339069.1.0.pdf
Here’s a lawsuit against the good officer…
“Plaintiff was severely beaten repeatedly by Officers Grier, Badge # 5114 and Ruff, Badge
# 9594, causing him serious bodily injuries and trauma to his entire person, specifically
his head, including his nose, eyes, and cranial area.
24. After conducting X-ray, ultrasound, and CAT scan studies, the findings revealed a
complex fracture, including a fracture extending through the malar eminence and
extending into the most inferior portion of the right lateral orbit (eye), and into the
zygomatic arch. There is also an associated fracture of the anterolateral maxillary sinus
(nose).”
Could be the city wants to be rid of a troublesome employee and this is a convenient way to do it.
I couldn’t find any news stories, and the law sites wanted money to search for the outcome of the suit. If the complaint is accurate I’m guessing the city settled.
If only there was an institution in society dedicated to digging into the histories of public servants accused of violating the public trust to determine if it is a trend item of interest to the taxpayers… I know it is crazy talk, but this institution could then publish such information for the edification of readers.
“…street guns that he obtained by “buying the weapons from neighborhood kids in an effort to get them off the streets…â€
I smell drop-guns he thought he’d be able to sell to his brothers in uniform, but they were already stocked up.
“shall not be infringed”. That is his defense. The state and the city governments powers are limited by the constitution as is the federal government.
He might think about public service to reduce his sentence. Perhaps some high profile support of fellow Pennsylvanian Shaneen Allen.