Vulgar Dust Covers Maybe Aren’t a Good Idea, Police Officer Finds Out the Hard Way
OutdoorHub Reporters 03.20.17
A police officer in Mesa, Arizona, who was charged with second-degree murder for an on-duty shooting in January, pleaded not guilty during his first court appearance Tuesday, Tucson News Now reports.
Officer Phillip Brailsford was released without bond following the hearing, and his attorney, Craig Mehrens, stated, “He is not a danger to the community. He has honorably served the community as a Mesa police officer, and he was honorably serving the day he received the call that day.”
On the day of the call, attorneys for the victim, Daniel Shaver, argued Brailsford acted maliciously, and they brought into question the gun he used to shoot Shaver.
The gun was an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle that was approved for service by the Mesa Police Department. However, there was one detail about the gun that doesn’t meet department policy.
Laney Sweet, Daniel Shaver’s wife, said: “Inscribed on the officer’s gun, and I hate to use profanity, but it said, “you’re f*****.”
Multiple sources have confirmed the vulgar saying is on the inside of the rifle’s dust cover and is only visible when open, which happens automatically in order to eject spent rounds when the weapon is fired.
Mesa police have stated they are launching an internal investigation into the gun’s inscription. Police Chief John Meza also stated he has recommended the department fire Officer Brailsford and have already begun the termination process.
