Police Chief Thomas Bennett Can't Shoot, Loses Gun And Badge (VIDEO)

Thomas Bennett, the police chief of Richlands, N.C., was suspended as a law enforcement officer after failing his recent annual firearms qualification exam.

RICHLANDS, N.C. -- The police chief of a North Carolina town has been prohibited from carrying a badge and gun because he couldn't shoot straight.

Police Chief Thomas Bennett was suspended as a law enforcement officer after failing his recent annual firearms qualification exam.

Bennett's suspended certification also means he cannot turn on the blue lights on a police cruiser or make a traffic stop.

Bennett says he is still able to perform job duties related to managing the police department.

Town Administrator Gregg Whitehead says Bennett has been asked to take the firearms test again.

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Comments

[sunnubian]

07:22 AM on 04/19/2012

Now, that funny. If anyone remembers the Andy Griffin Show (Andy of Mayberry), Andy, the sheriff would only give the deputy, Barney and unloaded gun to carry around, (unless there may be trouble, then he would give Barney one (1) bullet that he had to keep in his shirt pocket "until needed." (Andy Griffin is from North Carolina).

So, Andy of Mayberry is real.

[thegriffinite]

03:13 AM on 04/16/2012

Sometimes you get old an sloppy.

[airlau]

09:20 AM on 04/15/2012

How in God´s name did he enter the force in the first place??

[feraltyger]

07:52 AM on 04/13/2012

Affirmative action at work.

[rockettmann]

12:53 PM on 04/13/2012

So true! I would love to know how he got the job in the first place. Sounds like Affirmative Action’s finest putting the community’s, as well as his own life at risk to fill quotas! (Once again...)

[Vic Uno]

11:39 PM on 04/12/2012

Weird..

[Tawnya Coomer]

07:34 PM on 04/12/2012

HAHAHA- Sorry, I need more information like how he was able to become a cop to begin with. Why did he fail his test? Ect ect ect. Interesting thing this story.

[Fenrir Lokison]

06:24 PM on 04/12/2012

Okay...I just have one question...

Were any personal weapons also taken away?

[OIF2009]

06:21 PM on 04/12/2012

I share a range with cops on a regular basis. Hardly any of them can shoot straight. Their idea of marksmanship is being able to barely hit paper on a point traget. I laugh at progressives who say that all civilians should be disarmed do to lack of police training. Nearly every NRA member I know can shoot ten times better than the average cop I see practicing. Progressive society would disarm military veterans because we arent cops, you are somehow safer with a guy who hits all of the innocent bystanders and misses the perp.

Im shocked they took his gun. Sometimes PDs take veterans and my friends who work for several departments all say that the only co workers who can rightly pass marksmanship are "gun nuts" to start with. Most cops get penciled in when they fail over and over. Fitness tests have been made so easy that any overweight blimp can pass them. Training standards for cops huh? Where?

[ShawnzySwag]

04:13 AM on 04/13/2012

Those people still go out and risk their lives every night keeping your streets safer.

[feraltyger]

07:54 AM on 04/13/2012

They keep donut shops safer.

[sixtongue]

02:28 PM on 04/12/2012

Bufford Pusser just used a big stick in that small Tennessee town .....

[thegriffinite]

03:15 AM on 04/16/2012

Then he got shot to death.

[JRMIT]

12:12 PM on 04/12/2012

Even Barney Fife got one bullet.

[Fenrir Lokison]

06:23 PM on 04/12/2012

LOL!

[Freedomaphile]

11:46 AM on 04/12/2012

Unless this is a really small town, I would expect the chief to be sitting at a desk.

[Parade Keegan]

07:47 AM on 04/12/2012

A police chief that can't shoot? Are they kidding? Fire him after he takes shooting lessons three attempts to pass if he doesn't pass.

[Brianna Cole]

04:43 AM on 04/12/2012

I like seeing stories about when the Police are taking care of business. Not letting someone who has "gone to seed" continue to do dangerous things. Good for all of you. If you can, re-train him. If he is a good cop, he deserves to be out there.

[Tawnya Coomer]

07:44 PM on 04/12/2012

He could have had an off day. Maybe he wasn't feeling well. At least he has a chance to take it again.

[thegriffinite]

03:16 AM on 04/16/2012

Policing isn't all shooting holes in people.

[Brianna Cole]

12:28 AM on 04/18/2012

Coming from a family of Officers, I know that well enough. However, is it fair to send an Officer onto the field unable to protect themselves, their partners, or the innocent if necessary?

[rewith85man]

02:59 AM on 04/12/2012

See, kids, this is what happens when you quit school or stay in the same grade many times.

[giftoflife898]

11:56 PM on 04/11/2012

Maybe if he held the gun straight and not sideways he could shoot better.