WILKES-BARRE -- An internal investigation is underway within the Wilkes-Barre Police Department after a loaded gun was found in a holding cell.
Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George said the gun had nine bullets.
“It would have been a catastrophe if someone got ahold of the gun and started firing inside the station,” he said.
Police launched an internal investigation shortly after the gun was found two weeks ago. The mayor thinks a male suspect, who is not yet being named, got the gun past police after authorities failed to do a proper pat down. The mayor says police did not find the gun until a couple days after the suspect left the cell. No other suspects were placed in that cell.
"We're waiting for the investigation to be completed, but apparently he couldn't have been patted down or searched properly,” George said.
As critical as pat downs are, they can be uncomfortable to the suspect and the officer, according to one former police detective who used to work near Philadelphia.
"I've got to be pretty thorough. I've got to up in that crotch area, because if they're secreting a gun or any type of weapon, I've got to get up in there. I've got to make sure there's nothing in there,” said Paul Lindenmuth, an Assoc. Criminal Justice Assoc. Professor at King's College.
He points out there could be several reasons police failed a pat down, like miscommunication between officers, or perhaps the man who was arrested had only committed a petty crime. Regardless, he says neglecting a pat down should never happen.
“You're putting yourself and also anybody else in jeopardy if you do not do a thorough search,” he said.
Police wouldn't say how long their investigation could take or what consequences could happen to the officer or officers who may have allowed the gun to get into cell.
