INDUCED LABOR

 All guns are dangerous, especially "unloaded" ones. Of those, unloaded semi-autos top the list. Sometimes a round will hide inside and not be detected by even the most experienced gun handler. Chester Keene remembered that such was the case one evening, long ago, at the NPD. 

A Detective, after making a concealed weapons arrest, was checking the gun into evidence with the Evidence Sgt. and Armorer, JD Spohn. Both were experienced with guns, being ex-military and veteran cops.

At the old PD on 8th and 8th South, the evidence closet was in the radio dispatch room. It was a regular closet that besides evidence contained uniforms, a few special weapons, cleaning supplies, and most anything else that needed to be put out of the way. This was not quite the high-security evidence fortresses of today.

The Detective and JD had diligently removed the magazine, and worked the slide several times to eject any bullet that might be in the breach. Nothing. Then the slide was sent home and BOOM the gun fired a live round. The round hit the glass dispatcher's desk top, skidded off, and lodged in the wall beside the Dispatcher, Betty Jo Rankin, missing her by inches.

Betty Jo was nine months pregnant and was due to have induced labor and next morning. But, having a bullet zing by your head has a way of getting your attention. And getting your adrenaline pumping like a broken BP well . Such was the case with Betty Jo who, later that evening, gave birth to a healthy baby boy--induced by a .38.