BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS and JOHN HOPKINS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
EVENDALE - A Cincinnati police recruit was injured Wednesday night when she was shot with a blank round during a night training exercise at the Cincinnati Police Division target range here.
The recruit, Rebecca Hopkins, 25, was injured in her lower left back when a blank from a weapon used in the exercise discharged, Lt. Roger Wolf said.
Ms. Hopkins, whose address was not available, was transported by AirCare helicopter to University Hospital, where she was in serious condition late Wednesday.
Lt. Wolf said Ms. Hopkins' injuries were not life threatening. Ms. Hopkins is a member of the 43-member 86th recruit class, scheduled to graduate Dec. 11.
Lt. Wolf said the blank was fired from the handgun of another recruit about 9:10 p.m. on the firing range compound.
Lt. Wolf said that at close range, the flash from a blank can cause burns, and possibly a concussion if directed at the head.
He said the blanks are used for their sound effects.
As a result of the mishap, police are expected to review their training practices.
The recruit class is in the latter stage of its training. No live ammunition is allowed on the range unless the recruits are doing target shooting.
The range is in an industrial area near St. Rita School for the Deaf, and next to Evendale Business Center at 10235 Spartan Drive off Glendale-Milford Road.
