Last Saturday I reported an unsafe air-soft pellet gun shooting incident that I had personally witnessed in a park. Later, I I learned the police had misinformed me on several occasions. In the interest of public trust, I'm clarifying the inaccuracies.
Redmond Police Commander Shari Shovlin called today to inform me of the facts:
- According to Police Commander Shari Shovlin, the three juveniles shooting the air-soft guns were not arrested or cited for misdemeanor (even though the lead officer on the scene said the boys would go to court.)
- The Public Information Officer told me air-soft pellet guns are legal in parks. According to Commander Shovlin, the Redmond Municipal Code states air soft guns are illegal in parks if pointed or shot.
- The game-shooting incident is a misdemeanor, but it was not reported on the Police Blotter.
Do you know air soft pellet shooting is a game like paintball? If played with face protection and in a safe location it's a fun game. Police make mistakes just like anyone, but do you think there could be something more to these errors and ommissions?
Mayor announces two candidates for Police Chief in 3/10 Press Release:
ReplyDelete“I’m very pleased with the steps we’ve taken to find a new Police Chief for Redmond,” stated Mayor Marchione. “We listened to the community, Police officers and other City staff and developed a job description meeting their stated goals. We looked for a proven leader with experience in commanding a public safety agency with a community-oriented emphasis. We want our new Chief to have a strong commitment to collaboration and a history of building cohesive teams that are in sync with our community.”
Bill Gardner and Ron Gibson will be in Redmond next week for a series of interviews and meetings with City officials and Police department staff. The City hopes to have the new Chief in place by mid-June.
Bob, my apologies for the miscommunication on the regulations/laws, that was our fault, but I did want to clarify the info so your readers are educated on the laws.
ReplyDeleteThere is no RCW that specifically mentions air guns, but the closest would be RCW 9.41.270 (RCW 9.41 addresses all firearms/dangerous weapons) and can be found here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.270
There is a Redmond Municipal Code that specifically addresses air guns, and that's under RMC 9.24, which can be found here: http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/redmond.html
9.24 addresses all weapons, but specifically 9.24.020 addresses air guns.
If anyone has specific questions about this regulation, feel free to contact us.
Hi Jim - You are the primary Public Information Officer for all crime issues in the city, such as soft air pellet guns, so I definitely appreciate your apology. You used a word "miscommunication" when I think you meant "misinformation". We communicated with each other on this case on several occasions but the information you gave me - that soft air pellet guns are legal - was incorrect. Again, I accept your apology and look forward to your Police Blotter reporting service to help keep neighbors up to date for crimes nearby.
ReplyDeleteBelow, is the code and language I found for soft air pellet guns in parks. A reader actually directed me to the code.
"Amendment of Section. RMC 9.32.090, Parks, Firearms and Explosives, is hereby amended to provide as follows:
It is unlawful to shoot, fire, or explode any firearms, rockets, fireworks, firecrackers, torpedo or explosive of any kind or to shoot or fire any air gun, bows and arrows, BB gun, or use any slingshot or other propelling device wherein the applied human energy or force is artificially aided, directed or added to in any PARK, except in such designated recreational areas as may be designated by the director and/or law enforcement officials acting in official capacity."