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Randy Cassingham's BlogHistorical Details and Author's Notes from This is True®
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Bambi Get Your Gun
Another story that begs to be illustrated by the photo mentioned. From True's 13 September 2009 issue:
Free Weird Newsletter
Gun Show, Texas Style
Police in Round Rock, Texas, were called to a restaurant on a report of a waitress out front -- with an assault rifle. When officers arrived, they found that five sheriff's deputies from Midland, 350 miles away, who were in town for training, had given the rifle to the waitress, known as "Bambi", for photos of her sitting on their patrol car. "We take a lot of pictures here, you know what I'm saying," said Sam Baiocco, manager of "Twin Peaks", where waitresses wear halter tops and short-shorts. The county attorney declined to press charges against the officers, but one was fired, three were suspended without pay, and the other was reprimanded. "At no point at any time was anyone in any danger because we took proper precaution," said Vanda "Bambi" Purvis, 25. "Besides, I know how to use that gun." (Austin American Statesman) ...And had the officers gone to the training class, maybe they would have known how too.
Well Armed and Well Legged: Her nametag says "BAMBI" but this is Vanda Purvis, 25, a waitress at the Hooters clone "Twin Peaks" in Round Rock, Texas. The cops thought it'd be a lot of fun to get her photo on the back of their patrol car. One of them thought it'd be a real hoot if she was holding a police 'assault rifle'. She didn't fire the unloaded gun, but he was fired over this photo. (Photo courtesy Midland County Sheriff's Office) |
Why yes, in fact the back of that patrol car does read "CRIME INTERDICTION". You'll notice I didn't rise to that bait.
I now have details on who was punished, and why the punishments differed. Deputy Daniel Subia, 30, was the officer who was fired -- because he was the one who handed the waitress the weapon. Deputies Christopher Lee Evans, 34, Ronald Eugene Wright, 37, and Miguel Valdez Ramos, 31, were each suspended for three days without pay. Deputy Arturo Nunez Jr., 40, who said he remained inside the restaurant while the other officers went outside, was the one who was given a letter of reprimand.
"They violated my policy about being professional wherever they go," explained Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter.
A few more story details I really didn't have room for in my regular format: the reason "Bambi" knows "how to use that gun" is because she has one just like it, she told a reporter. One quote of hers that I was sorely tempted to use: "At no point at any time was anyone in any danger because we took proper precautions."
"I think it's funny that everyone made such a big deal about it," Purvis said, noting that she received an inquiry as to whether she would consider posing in Playboy -- but she turned that down. Another wonderful tidbit: she grew up in Pflugerville.
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Posted by Bob, New Jersey on September 26, 2009:
I'm just going to add a few thoughts to this thread.
1. A police officer should "never" hand a department weapon to a civilian? That needs a bit more clarification. What if the civilian is a gunsmith? How about when the officer is teaching a firearms safety class? On a firing range where the civilian safety officer asks to inspect and clear a weapon? Presenting a weapon to airline personel to confirm that it's cleared prior to checking it in for travel? Is the officer's spouse allowed to move it from the bed to the nightstand? OK, now we know that there may have to be exceptions to the "rule". Hmmm, ZT issues come to mind.
2. I can easily see that there might be an empty magazine available. The training might include live fire and the magazine was left empty prior to cleaning. Yes, I know that cleaning weapons after having a few drinks is not a good idea, however... It might also be that ammunition was being provided at the training and empty mags were specified.
3. One thing taught by every decent firearms instructor is to always point a weapon in a safe direction. While up is not always 100 percent safe, in general it is much safer than any other direction. I would much rather be hit by a bullet falling at terminal velocity than one directed at me.
4. While it may be a bit of a generalization, I would expect the average Texan to be fairly familiar with firearms. Much more so than in my home state of New Jersey. While I would assume that the weapon was cleared before being handed to Bambi, I would also assume that she could clear it as well. For all we know, he did, she did, AND it was always pointed in a safe direction. I read nothing stating that there was careless handling being alleged.
5. I would be very interested to know if the sheriff's policy on "professional behavior" was written or verbal. I'd also be interested to know just how many other photos are hanging on the walls in the sheriffs office of civilians holding police issued firearms in similar situations. While I may think that these guys were acting unprofessionally, if they had precedent that this was acceptable then a firing was inappropriate. I have personally seen police officers behavior that was worse than this and not been subject to discipline at all.
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Bad behavior is often unpunished; it's getting that behavior in the newspaper that seems to demand punishment. I do agree that the "never" in point 1 is too strong, for the examples you state. Last, it's interesting to see how many people assume they were in town for training with that firearm. None of the stories I saw said what type of training it was, and frankly I'd be surprised if it had anything to do with that weapon. -rc
Posted by Neil, Australia on September 27, 2009:
Years ago I was in the CMF (Citizens Military Forces, now called "Reserves") and one day on a live fire exercise on the range, we OR's (Other Ranks) had finished our shoot, so the Officers had a turn with our weapons. We were using 7.62mm FN-SLR's, a very potent piece of firearm.
After the Officers' shoot, they did their own safety inspection and handed the rifles back to us. We laid down a tarp with all the cleaning gear on the ground then sat in a circle to dis-assemble and clean the rifles. The FN-SLR has to be cocked before taking it apart. So each of us in the circle cocked our weapon.
One live round flew out of a rifle and landed between us. You can imagine the stunned looks on the circle of faces!
What was that comment about treating all weapons as loaded??
Posted by Mike from Dallas on November 28, 2009:
Let's see, taking pictures of a woman holding a rifle (especially a police department rifle) is a firing offense. Yet, according to This is True #806 (22 Nov 2009), two Naples, FL police officers admit to leaving (and losing) a packet of cocaine in a hotel room after a training exercise, and that's not even a reprimandable offense. Just "an honest mistake by two hard-working police officers."
In the famous words of Bill Cosby, "RIGHT!"
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As long as you noticed I rolled my eyes on the latter one, we're good! But seriously, handing a firearm to a civilian for cheesecake shots does seem to me to be a bigger deal than hiding contraband for a police dog to find it, and forgetting about one of the hidden packets when you leave. Certainly worthy of a slap on the wrist, but it's hardly worthy of public praise, as was the case. -rc