Front-line police officers continue to suffer hand, arm, neck and
facial lacerations from shrapnel exploding out of their ageing Smith
and Wesson revolvers. The Police Association’s list of wounded has
grown by seven since just last June.
Disturbing reports of the injuries - both in firearms training and
in the field - have continued to mount up on the desk of association
assistant secretary, Tom Scheffler.
“And these are just the reports that we get,” said Mr Scheffler.
“We don’t know the true extent of the problem.
“How long does it have to go on for? What serious injury is required
for SAPOL to address the issue to a point at which either the firearm
is replaced with a suitable substitute, or the problem is actually
stopped?”
Mr Scheffler said he feared the potential for far more serious injuries
if SAPOL failed to move “quickly and appropriately” on the shrapnel
issue. He spoke specifically of the risk of a shard of metal lodging
in an officer’s eye causing blindness.
The dangers of SAPOL’s revolvers - some in use for as long as 15
years - first came to the association’s notice in June last year.
Then, a Murray Bridge officer was left with a cut and bleeding nose
from flying shrapnel during firearms training.
Up until last month, the total number of injured stood at 15.
All but two of the seven
recent victims had had shrapnel strike their faces, arms or hands
during firearms training at various ranges. Among their injuries were
cuts, abrasions and bleeding.
One officer, wounded in the field, suffered severe powder burns to
his left hand.
Only one other officer - injured when the rear sight of his revolver
flew off and struck him in the forehead - had not taken a shrapnel
wound.
SAPOL, alerted to the shrapnel injuries two years ago, told the Police
Association in February this year that it would continue to use the
revolvers “in the foreseeable future”.
Assistant Commissioner Graham Barton, in a letter to association
secretary, Andy Dunn, claimed that “extra servicing of current revolvers”
and “the enforcement of firing range guidelines” should reduce the
incidence of flying shrapnel.
Mr Scheffler said Asst Commissioner’s Barton’s prediction had proved
incorrect. “Back in February, it was going to be addressed, and the
incidents reduced,” he said. “But we’ve not had that - we’ve had an
increase.
“Before we (the association) raised the issue with the Commissioner,
we had three reports. Since then, we’ve had a further 12 reports.
“And we’re talking about controlled conditions, in which members
wore glasses and long sleeves, as advised.
“What’s going to happen in real situations, in which one of these
revolvers is used in the vicinity of a bystander or fellow officer?
“We just find it unacceptable to have a firearm that’s doing this
to our members. It’s the employer’s responsibility to address this
issue.”
In Australia, only the SA and Victoria police forces continue to
use Smith and Wesson revolvers. Many interstate and overseas jurisdictions
use and favour the semi-automatic Glock pistol. Experts rate it as
technologically superior, safer and more powerful.
Mr Scheffler stressed, however, that it was not the association’s
role to suggest or endorse an alternative firearm. “It is for us to
highlight the dangers (of the revolvers) and address the industrial
and safety aspects of this issue on behalf of our members,” he said.
• Any member who suffers a shrapnel injury
should inform SAPOL through the appropriate channels, but also advise
Police Association assistant secretary, Tom Scheffler, on (08) 8212
3055 or 0417 817 075.
