BANGOR — The city’s new police chief was cleaning his weapon Monday night and apparently shot himself in the hand, a press release from the city issued Tuesday morning states.
Chief Mark Hathaway, a 25-year veteran officer who was selected as the city’s new chief in April, had just returned from training with their new guns in Brewer when the shooting took place.
“At approximately 5:15 p.m., while officers were cleaning their new guns at the Bangor police station, Chief Mark Hathaway sustained a non-life threatening injury to his left hand in what appears to be an accidental discharge of his duty weapon,” City Manager Cathy Conlow said in the statement.
Lt. Tim Reid is investigating the shooting. Messages left for Reid and Hathaway were not immediately returned Tuesday morning.
Hathaway was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center for treatment and later released, the press release states.
The gun Hathaway was using — a .45-caliber Glock — is new for the department, said Sgt. Paul Edwards.
“There are different mechanisms in this gun that is for sure,” the sergeant said. “[Hathaway’s] message is going to be train, train, train. We’re always reporting [about] people outside accidentally shooting themselves. It can happen to a police officer too. Gun safety is extremely important. That is the message he wants to relay.”
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