Seattle police leave rifle unattended on cruiser

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle police spokesman says the department is embarrassed after officers left a police rifle unattended on a patrol car outside a busy downtown area.

Spokesman Sgt. Sean Whitcomb says the department has launched an investigation.

Whitcomb says two people spotted the rifle on the parked car. One flagged down bicycle officers to alert them. The other followed the cruiser as it drove through downtown Seattle and tracked down the driver after the car parked.

The alternative weekly The Stranger first reported the incident, posting a picture that shows the rifle sitting on top of the trunk.

Whitcomb says such rifles are assigned only to officers who have additional training. They're usually kept in the trunk or between the driver and passenger seats.

unbelievable incompetence or was it?

it could have been bait for another spectacular 'terrorist' event if say, the assault weapon was acquired by some 'lone wolf' bad person while the twit who drove this patrol car; with the rifle on the trunk, to have a Starbucks coffee...

call me a paranoid but hey - this is incredible to the point of alarm.

Keep your cameras handy. more soon.