LAKE HAVASU CITY
www.lhcaz.gov
Charlie Cassens
Communications & Intergovernmental Affairs
Office
– (928) 854-4212 Cell – (928) 486-8879 Fax – (928) 680-4892
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April
16, 2007
Police Chief Warns of Toy Gun Danger
It may be just a toy
in the eyes of the law, but in the eyes of a police officer, it may be
virtually impossible to distinguish a toy gun from the real thing. So warns Lake Havasu City Chief of Police Dan
Doyle, whose officers confiscated an air pistol from a 16-year old male subject
who reportedly pointed the weapon at a motorist while stopped in traffic.
“A bad decision on the
young man’s part, to say the least,” said Chief Doyle. “But what is especially
troubling about this incident is how realistic looking this weapon is. If this toy were pointed at a police officer
at almost any distance, the officer would have no choice but to assume the gun
is genuine. Displaying a toy like this
in the presence of an officer could have tragic consequences.”
Chief Doyle stated the
toy pistol in Monday’s incident so closely resembles a Glock .40 caliber
semi-auto handgun, that it is almost impossible to tell them apart. It is a replica of the same make and caliber
of the service weapon used by Lake Havasu City police officers.
Chief Doyle added, “I
hope parents will take the time to teach their children to respect and
responsibly handle any weapon, whether it is real or not.”
-30 -
Contact: Lake Havasu City Chief
of Police Dan Doyle – 855-1171
