Raise the hiring IQ for cops: Off-duty Erlanger police officer accidentally shoots self in Over-the-Rhine


WCPO Staff
CINCINNATI - CINCINNATI -- An off-duty police officer from Erlanger, Kentucky was accidentally shot in Over-the-Rhine on Saturday when his weapon discharged in an elevator. The incident happened about 8:30 p.m. at the Mercer Commons Parking Garage near the intersection of Vine and Mercer streets. Erlanger police officer Darryl Jouett had just had dinner and was heading back to his car with his wife when his duty-issue .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun discharged inside the elevator. The bullet ricocheted off the wall and struck him in the stomach, according to Capt. Mike John "It's very unusual. Obviously you have somebody that's used to handling firearms," John said. "It's very unusual to see somebody discharge a firearm, accidentally, in a confined space like that. It's very unusual."  The next day, Erlanger police said Jouett went to adjust his belt when the service weapon fired in its holster. It's unclear if he had the safety on.