“Reckless adventure is the fool’s hazard” – Tacitus
This week a dashcam video was released by the Pasadena, CA, Police Department of a NEGLIGENT discharge involving two of their officers, which occurred September 7, 2025.
It begins as a patrol unit pulls into the department parking garage and drive towards two officers standing behind a cruiser with the tailgate open. As the car gets within 10 feet, one of the officers standing in the garage draws his pistol and points it at the driver, then re-holsters while grinning.
Off camera, it appears that the driver of the patrol car reciprocated, drew his gun, and while pointed at the first officer, touched a round off. The officer who began this insanity was struck in the shoulder.
The incident was kept completely off the radar while an “internal investigation” was conducted.
Friday, the Pasadena PD released a recorded statement by chief of police, Gene Harris, which amounted to the typical intelligence insulting whitewash of the entire affair, just as bureaucratic institutions are famous for.
[Click the Watch on YouTube link in the above box to view]
Here’s a partial transcript of his statement with my translation in brackets:
“Today we are releasing this critical incident video to provide our community with a greater understanding of the circumstances surrounding an officer involved shooting…”
[Which occurred TEN months ago, and we’d hoped to sweep it under the rug so none of you would ever hear about it, but…]
“…under California law, enforcement agencies are required to publicly release audio and video recordings of critical incidents, including officer involved shootings and incidents resulting in great bodily injury, generally within 45-days…”
[But this one was such an absolute embarrassment we dragged out the release as long as we could in hopes we could all retire and collect our insanely huge pensions before it came to light, now I hope you buy this ridiculous excuse as to why I kept a lid on it…]
“At the time of this incident one of our involved officers sustained serious injury and required medical treatment. Pursuant to applicable law, I exercised my statutory authority to delay the public release of the critical incident video. This delay was necessary to protect the integrity of the investigation and allow investigators to complete essential investigative steps…”
[No matter how much you don’t like it, what I did was “legal.” There actually could have been a completed investigation within 24 hours, and all involved would have been fired and then charged, but we protect our own no matter how egregious the behavior, and over the decades we’ve perfected stall tactics and deflection. By the way, do you like how I used a form of the word “investigate” three times in the same sentence? That’s all part of how we stonewall, talk in circles, and dazzle with BS. Now hang on, I’m just getting started!]
“The incident remains under review by the appropriate investigative authorities. Investigators continue to investigate all available evidence, including camera footage, witness statements, forensic evidence, and other relevant investigative leads…”
[If you haven’t caught on yet, we’re investigating with investigators who are continuing the investigation. …because…because…ummm, because there are still “leads” out there that our investigators have to investigate in order to solve: The Case of the Phantom Gun that Magically Shot Our Officer!]
“We recognize that incidents of this nature can be difficult for our community to process…”
[No! You did not hear what you think you heard over the last 10 months, or see what you think you saw in the video! You’re stupid, and we will tell you what and how to process.]
“Transparency, therefore, is an important part of maintaining public trust, and we are committed to sharing information as responsibly, accurately, and timely as possible.”
[That is the exact opposite of reality. If we had our way, none of you would have ever known about this.]
“This critical incident video contains relevant mobile video camera footage, and other materials, intended to provide context and help the public better understand the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
[All it really shows is three dumb-asses being dumb-asses, and everyone who can scrape two brain cells together understands the context and circumstances just fine.
“Viewer discretion is advised as this recording contains graphic images that may be disturbing to some viewers.”
[I hope that warning freaks everyone out and they immediately turn this off, because I can hardly sit here with a straight face anymore and act like I didn’t know this was going on around here regularly.]
*There’s more assurances that investigators are engaged in an investigation and are investigating, and then we get the breakdown of the actual shooting.*
“On September 7th, 2025, a suspected accidental officer involved shooting occurred involving members of the Pasadena Police Department, resulting in the injury of one of our officers.”
[This happened. Nothing “suspected” about it, nor was it “accidental.” In fact, the only thing we have left to “investigate” is if the officer who fired the shot did so on purpose, or not – that’s it. It was either retaliatory, or negligent, but it wasn’t an accident. But we love to muddy the waters with such statements because, again, we really aren’t committed to transparency, accuracy, or (especially) responsibility. We always downplay our mistakes, and amplify those of the citizenry – especially when it comes to guns.]
“The shooting resulted from officers engaged in unsafe and out-of-policy horseplay involving loaded firearms.”
OK – I’m going to stop right there. The video drones on for a few more minutes of absolute drivel. All of you can watch it for yourselves. As far as the last statement of the transcript I just typed goes…
Out-of-policy horseplay!!!?
First – Is there actually a department somewhere in the US that has a written policy that says it is OK for officers to point loaded guns at each other for fun? Like, we need a “policy” to codify that such behavior is frowned upon, and then we have to post it on our website so the general public knows that’s been properly addressed? It just goes without saying that sworn police officers should know pointing guns at each other for fun isn’t allowed.
Second – HORSEPLAY!!!!!!? As if it is just boys-will-be-boys, locker room behavior that just happened to go awry? What would we say if it was two nurses throwing darts at each other with AIDS infected needles? Is that who you want working with your surgeon?
No. This was three juvenile delinquents who have no business possessing firearms or arrest powers. And, yeah, I said THREE. The third officer standing at the back of the squad car didn’t even flinch when his partner drew his gun and pointed it at the driver of the other vehicle. He didn’t recoil in horror – he didn’t say a word. All he did was stand there and grin!
This was not the first time these idiots did this. And I have no way to prove it, but I bet this is a regular little game they play, and it wasn’t just between these two officers. I also can’t prove the chief knew about it, but I would bet he did. And even if he was oblivious, he’s still responsible for this level of stupid operating under his command.
Imagine if any of us lowly peons drew our guns on a goof and pointed them at each other in a parking lot, resulting in one of us being shot? Do you think, “Your honor, it was just out-of-policy horseplay” would fly in court?
This isn’t some momentary lapse of judgement, an honest mistake, fatigue related, or any other such excuse. This outlandish scoffing at the life and health of fellow human beings represents the character, spirit, and mindset of this department. It was an intentional and lucid choice, and it was sociopathic.
These officers should have been immediately fired, and they should all be facing charges. Reckless endangerment for the two who drew, and the shooter should have an unlawful discharge and assault with a deadly weapon with a grave bodily injury enhancement charge. The third loser should be facing a failure to act or aiding and abetting charge – yeah, it’s a stretch that wouldn’t stick, but let his ride be his punishment. I doubt any of them would have a problem doing it to any of us!
The taxpaying public has had it with the complete lack of accountability from government and police.
Congress engages in insider trading everyday, but any of us conduct a transaction over $599 without submitting a W9 and we’re threatened with jail if we don’t pay a fine.
Everyone has a story of watching police officers speed, yak on their phones while driving, not wearing seat-belts, failing to use turn signals, running stop signs, parking in fire lanes to go chat up a checkout girl, sleeping on the job, etc. And there are 10’s of thousands of Youtube videos of police officers violating their oaths, getting caught lying on reports, and using excessive force, all while their fellow officers stand by and allow it. It’s not a few outliers, it’s an epidemic.
And to add insult to injury, they will will investigate themselves and regularly find that they did nothing wrong. In this case, we are assured by the chief that “disciplinary measures have been taken.” Yeah, sure.
Well, tax law and traffic stops aren’t my specialty, guns are. And in this case, with 100% certainty, I can conclude without any further investigation that those involved are unfit to serve. If they had any honor, they’d all turn in their badges, including the chief.
“…behaviors are the truest reflection of our character and values.” – Noam Shpancer Ph.D.
