AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine State Police are investigating the accidental firing of a lieutenant’s handgun during a staff meeting Wednesday morning.
“Lt. Shaun Currie, who heads up our commercial vehicle enforcement division, was at a computer training class at our former headquarters on Hospital Street in Augusta with two other troopers,” said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. “He shifted in his seat and his firearm discharged while still in the holster.”
No one was injured in the incident.
McCausland confirmed that the gun was an H&K .45-caliber handgun. When asked if the safety was on, he said he didn’t have any further details about specifics other than the holster was securely attached to the lieutenant’s lap.
“It’s far too early to tell if there was a mechanical problem,” McCausland said. “Our firearms safety expert who oversees our firearms training will examine the weapon and determine what happened.”
He said Currie’s gun has been taken to the state police’s armory for analysis and testing, where the department’s technicians likely will try to re-create the situation that led to the discharge. The weapon’s manufacturer also will be contacted and consulted.
The incident occurred at the state police’s former headquarters at 36 Hospital St. around 11 a.m. Wednesday.