Oakdale police officer recovering after accidentally shooting himself at hospital
An Oakdale police officer underwent surgery after accidentally shooting himself while off duty at a Sacramento hospital.
The incident occurred around 7 p.m. Tuesday while the officer was visiting a family member at Sutter General Hospital.
“At one point, when handling his firearm, the firearm accidentally discharged, causing injury,” according to a press release from the Oakdale Police Department.
Oakdale Police Chief Jerry Ramar said Thursday that the incident occurred inside the room of the family member the officer was visiting.
He said it is his understanding that the shot wasn’t even heard by others, so the hospital never went on lockdown and there was never a security concern.
Ramar said the officer was handling the weapon because he was about to take a walk, but he did not know if the officer was holstering or unholstering the weapon.
Ramar would not release the officer’s name or say where he was shot, saying it is a personnel matter.
The officer underwent surgery, has since been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. No one else was injured.
The incident was investigated by the Sacramento Police Department and was deemed an accident.
The Oakdale Police Department also is conducting an internal investigation.
