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It's unclear exactly how Riverdale Police Chief Dave Hansen handled a loaded gun while teaching a firearms safety course - accidentally shooting himself in the ankle.
But the incident has sparked criticism from some of his students and highlights one fact of Utah's concealed-weapon-permit courses: Instructors have no bans on loaded guns or set ammunition guidelines for their classrooms.
That could change if the Bureau of Criminal Identification weapons review board takes up the issue at its next meeting in July, said board Chairman Clark Aposhian. The board regulates curricula and has the authority to revoke an instructor's credentials.
Riverdale police on Tuesday referred questions about the shooting to City Attorney Steve Brooks, who declined to comment until an investigation is completed.
Two students enrolled in the class told The Standard-Examiner they thought the chief had been careless.
''We were told the gun is the chief's personal sidearm, but it looked to me like he didn't know anything about the gun,'' Lewis Walker said, adding that he thinks Hansen's certification to teach concealed-weapons classes should be taken away.
Bart Ulm, another student, told the newspaper he was surprised Hansen was using a loaded gun to show how it worked.
''Right then, I was very leery because there's no need to have live ammo in a gun in the class. But I figured he's the chief, so he must know what he's doing,'' Ulm said.
Hansen held the Glock 40 under a table to disassemble it when a bullet fired, Walker told the newspaper.
Hansen's brother, Neil, said the shooting was an accident. Hansen had removed the clip from his gun and had removed a bullet out of the chamber, said his brother.
"He thought it was clear," said Neil Hansen. "Dave was of the mindset to make sure everything is safe."
Neil Hansen said his brother pointed the gun down to the ground and pulled the trigger to make sure the gun was unloaded before passing it around the classroom. He then discovered the gun's chamber wasn't empty.
The misfire is uncharacteristic of his safety-conscious brother, Neil Hansen said.
Aposhian, a longtime firearms instructor and chairman of the Utah Self-Defense Instructors Network, said he unloads ammunition from his gun before taking the weapon inside a classroom.
"In the classroom environment, I'm increasing the potential for a discharge by handling a firearm," he said, noting the potential of a negligent discharge increases when handling a gun versus simply carrying a loaded firearm throughout the day.
Hansen was treated at a hospital and released Monday, his brother said, but may need to undergo surgery in the future. Hansen did not return a message seeking comment Tuesday.
Brooks said he visited Hansen, 54, on Monday and the chief is home resting. Hansen is on medical leave from work. A date for his return to the office isn't yet set, Brooks said.
"He's doing well, all things considered," said Brooks.
"We're just relieved he's OK and that nobody else was hurt."
* THE ASSOCIATED PRESS contributed to this report.
Applicants must:
* Present current firearms certification from the National Rifle Association, the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy or an equivalent insurer certification.
* Submit a driver license and summary of qualifications.
* Attach a copy of proposed course curriculum, which will be reviewed by the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification to make sure minimum training requirements will be met in the instructor's class.
* Pay a $5 application fee.
Source: Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification