This is in NO WAY meant to be a bash at any LEO.
I heard a story from a co-worker today and on the way home I ran into a local SO deputy I know who confirmed the story.
Seems one of our local LEO was in a business establishment and ran into someone he knew. The civilian was talking to the LEO about his sidearm, and asked the LEO if he could take a look at it. The LEO removed his sidearm, dropped the mag, and handed it to his friend (the civilian). Of course the civilian has to look down the sights, try the trigger, and....[b]BANG![/b]
Fortunately nothing was injured but the floor. My SO friend said the officer has been on the force a long time and was not knew to the job. He has of course received plenty of hazing from the other deputies. This is just an example of what can happen when both people handling a gun fail to observe proper safety procedures. Amazing that BOTH failed to think about the fact there was still one in the chamber. IIRC the sidearm was a Glock, but don't quote me on that.
FWIW, my SO friend says it is dept. policy that a deputy is not to remove his sidearm unless he has reason to believe he may need to use it.