‘Friendly fire’: Qld police sergeant accidentally shoots himself on the job

A police sergeant has shot himself after loading his Glock service pistol at the Southport police station on Monday night, triggering an internal investigation.

The incident occurred at the Southport Police Station on the Gold Coast.

A cop has shot himself in the foot in a mishap at a Gold Coast police station, triggering an internal investigation.

The officer was believed to have loaded his Glock service pistol at the Southport police station and was putting it in the holster when the gun discharged about 9.45pm on Monday.

Police confirmed a male sergeant had been wounded in the incident.

“The officer received an injury to his left toe as a result of the accidental discharge during station load procedures,” a spokesman said.

“He was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged. No other officers were injured.

“Support is being provided to the officer and colleagues at the station.”

The spokesman said the incident was being investigated by the Gold Coast police district, and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland had been advised.

The officer is the latest injured during “friendly fire” in Queensland in recent years.

Last September, a senior constable from the Moreton District was rushed to hospital after he was injured by debris from a stray bullet during a training exercise at the Belmont Pistol Club.

In April last year, a male sergeant was accidentally shot in the calf during a live-fire training session at Childers.

He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

In 2018, a male constable accidentally shot himself in the calf at Springwood police station and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Police at the time said he was “not following our rigorous processes we have in place for safety”.

Senior Constable Kym Slade used her police pistol to take her own life in a tragedy at Loganholme police station in July last year.

Her death sparked calls for better mental health support for police and other first responders.