BRAINTREE, Mass. — A veteran Cranston, Rhode Island Police sergeant’s weapon accidentally discharged following the funeral for fallen Weymouth Police Sergeant Michael Chesna, according to a Braintree Police Incident Report obtained by Boston 25 News.
Braintree Police were called to 530 West Street, the parking lot of Century Stone, just before 3 p.m. on July 20 for a report of an accidental discharge of a firearm. The parking lot was being used as a staging area for police officers attending Sgt. Chesna’s burial at Blue Hills Cemetery. Thousands of police officers from across the country came to pay their respects to the fallen hero.
MIT Police Sgt. David Smith told the responding Braintree officers he and his honor guard were walking behind the Cranston Police bus when they heard a gunshot.
The round was fired inside the bus and traveled outside, ricocheting off the ground near the MIT officers. The impact sent part of the pavement up into the air, hitting two of the MIT officers. Neither MIT officer was seriously injured and both refused medical treatment.
The responding Braintree officers boarded the Cranston Police bus and spoke with Cranston Police Sergeant Michael Patnaud, whose gun discharged. He was part of the department’s honor guard. Sgt. Patnaud said he was changing out of his uniform and took his gun belt off. While trying to put the belt away, his department-issued .40 caliber Glock 22 fell from the holster. His attempt to catch the gun caused the weapon to discharge.
Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist told Boston 25 News his department is conducting an internal investigation into what happened. Because no one was seriously injured, Sgt. Patnaud has not been disciplined and is still on active duty. Chief Winquist said Sgt. Patnaud has never had any disciplinary issues in the past.
Boston 25 News has also reached out to MIT Police for comment.