A photograph of a Tucson police officer, showing her on duty with no magazine in her gun, went viral on a Facebook page dedicated to law enforcement.
The photo of Officer Faith Schrouder was posted on the βSurvive the Streets: A Page for Copsβ photo timeline in mid-October and has received more than 2,200 views, more than 1,000 shares and 1,700 comments.
Law enforcement personnel across the nation have left comments that range from disbelief to humorous to questioning the danger posed to officers and the public.
Schrouder was hired by the department on January 2013 and patrols the downtown business district.
When the Arizona Daily Star inquired into the matter, Lt. Corey Doggett explained that on Oct. 17 at about 5 p.m., Schrouder and another officer had just come on duty and responded to a check-welfare call involving a man who was suffering a mental crisis.
The officers took the man, without incident, to the Crisis Response Center at Banner-University Medical Center South.
It appears someone took the photo while the officers were interacting with the man and later posted it on the Internet, said Doggett.
After the officers handled the call, Schrouder was informed about her gun not having bullets, as required by the departmentβs general orders.
Schrouder corrected the problem and advised her sergeant, said Doggett.
Doggett said the incident and photo were brought to the attention of Schrouderβs commanders, who reviewed the incident and determined that the action was a mistake and not misconduct, said Doggett.
He said commanders spoke to Schrouder about her mistake and that she was counseled and provided with remedial training.
