Reward offered after Salt Lake police officer loses gun



SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Police Department is offering a reward to help it locate an officer's missing firearm.



It was in the late afternoon when the "veteran officer" completed training in the area of 1050 W. 700 South, Salt Lake police detective Lisa Pascadlo said. He was loading equipment into his vehicle and placed his gun and holster on the trunk of his car.



He drove away, but realized what had happened within 15 minutes and immediately returned only to find the gun was gone.



"The officer is just heartsick over this," Pascadlo said. "This is very, very uncommon."



Pascadlo said dozens of officers spread out over an area spanning the I-15 corridor all the way to the Woods Cross exit. They even went door-to-door to inquire after the missing weapon, but came up with nothing.



Moeta Salt was just returning home from a graduation ceremony when police knocked on her door and told her a gun was missing.



"I was surprised," she said. "I said: 'Where? It's just out there in front?' And he said: 'I don't know, it's just somewhere here.'"



She said two more officers returned later and also asked to talk to her children. "I told him, if we see a gun, we'll let him know," Salt said.



Police are now offering a $200 reward for the gun's return. It is a black Glock handgun, model No. 17, and is typically loaded. Pascadlo said there is a safety on the trigger of the gun, but it may have been compromised by sliding off of the officer's car.



"It could be dangerous," she said. "(If found), we really urge people not to touch it."



Those with information are asked to call police at 801-799-INFO.

Police rifle left unattended on cruiser in Seattle



Have you ever left a cup of coffee on the roof of your car and driven away? What if a policeman did something like that with a weapon? It's something that happened in Seattle, and the police department there is really embarrassed by it.



A bystander took a photo of an unattended police rifle. It was first posted on a newspaper's website.



So how did it happen? One officer was loading or unloading the car in a secured area, place the rifle on the trunk of a squad car next to it, and walked away.



A second office got into that car, drove to a hotel, and parked, still unaware the rifle was there.



The man who took the picture flagged down nearby bike officers, who secured the weapon.



Sergeant Sean Whitcomb of the Seattle Police Department says the department is embarrassed by the mistake. "Is it appropriate for it to be left alone and unattended? Absolutely not. Not even in a police facility. It is a careless act. We're very embarrassed. People should expect more," said Whitcomb.



The incident is being investigated.