Burnley Police Officer shot dead during traing excercise

[WillowTheWhisp]

Full story

It is not clear if the officer was shot accidentally by one of his own colleagues and police refused to answer specific questions about the incident.
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police would not comment on whether officers used live or blank bullets, or both on the training exercises.

Surely they can't just NOT reveal what happened.

[Col.Kurtz]

I thought it sounded a bit suspect when I saw it on the news last night. Maybe they're making sure that their stories match?!? Does sound like a tragic accident, but this kind of behaviour does help to raise suspicion. They must be trying to hide something is my thought when the police close ranks and keep tight-lipped.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Maybe they are just trying to clarify what happened first before the press goes and prints something before the family are told.

[jaysay]

It was reported this morning that he was shot once in the chest with a 12 bore shotgun, I'm trying to understand where a 12 bor comes into police training, well a loaded one anyway

[WillowTheWhisp]

On the TV news they have said it was a CS gas canister used for stopping car thieves. Does this mean they shoot to kill car thieves? It's a terrible tragedy for his family.

[terrywit]

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Does this mean they shoot to kill car thieves?

I do hope so.........

[WillowTheWhisp]

Well it turns out to have been a CS gas bullet for shooting into vehicles through the windows. Maybe they didn't realise they were deadly at close quarters.

[churchill]

The whole thing is a bit strange. I've been told that SO19 armed boys are a bit nuts, maybe this was some horsing around that went very, very wrong.