This article was updated on 14 November 2024 at 1130hrs.

We have an update on the situation with Julie Harris Inciriaga and her accidental discharge of a firearm.

We did file another Freedom of Information Request with the City of El Paso and the El Paso Police Department. Once again, the City and the Department have once again denied that such an incident took place.

“I work as a detective out of Five Points,” says a detective who asked that his name not be revealed in publication. “Inciriaga was reckless in the way she handled her firearm. She could have killed someone. They are in full cover-up mode.”

The following document is what we filed and the answer we received from the City of El Paso:

“We got a training bulletin,” said a Northeast Regional Command Center officer. “A training bulletin that addresses the handling and clearing of our weapons. If Julie didn’t have that desk pop, why the bulletin?”

The Citizens of El Paso deserve answers: Why was Julie Harris Inciriaga not suspended, per Policy and Procedure? Why are command staff seemingly untouchable?

“If I did this, if I had a desk pop like Julie, I would be home for a day and have to be retrained or even terminated,” said the Northeast Regional Command Center patrol officer.

Once again, the City of El Paso and the El Paso Police Department refuse to honor their commitment to transparency.

6 November 2024, El Paso, Texas, Steven Zimmerman—We want to avoid negative articles about the El Paso Police Department and the City of El Paso, but we can’t. While the Department talks of transparency, it still does not grasp the whole meaning of transparency.

“What happened, what occurred,” says an officer who was at the Chief Gregory Allen Police Headquarters in El Paso, Texas, “was a high ranking officer was at her desk, dry fired her sidearm, and discharged a round.”

That round, according to other officers, went through walls and could have killed someone.

If a police officer in Texas accidentally discharges their firearm in the office, they most likely face disciplinary action, including potential suspension or termination, depending on the severity of the incident and the Department’s policies; they may also face criminal charges depending on the circumstances, such as a “negligent discharge” charge, which could result in fines and potential jail time depending on local laws and the specific situation.

“What she did was negligence on her part,” said a civilian staff member of the El Paso Police Department, who works at headquarters. “How do you not fully clear your weapon? They are trained for this, or should be trained for this.”

We contacted the City of El Paso to ask about the accidental discharge of a weapon by Julie Harris Inciriaga, a member of the El Paso Police Department Command Staff. Our questions were:

Has this officer been suspended pending an investigation?

Is there an investigation into this matter?

Is this officer going to be retrained on how to ensure her weapon is empty?

What is the Department’s policy for officers accidentally discharging firearms in a city building?

The City of El Paso responded with what seems to be their go-to answer when the questions are uncomfortable for them: “The Texas Public Information Act does not require a governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions. The El Paso Police Department will be in contact with you in the next few days to release responsive records. Thank you.”

The El Paso Police Department sent the following document:

Since the incident with Inciriaga occurred, we’ve received eleven (11) emails and phone calls from officers and civilian staff about it. Additionally, we’ve heard from two civilians in the building at the time.

Accidents happen, even ones that have the potential for loss of life, like an accidental discharge of a sidearm while at the office. An incident like this and the transparency that the department champions would show the public that officers are also human and make mistakes. Instead, the city of El Paso and the El Paso Poice Department remain silent.

“The Chief is out of his depth,” says one officer’s voicemail. “He wants to be better than Allen, but he can’t. He’s had opportunities to be transparent, but he won’t do it. What Julie did would have been something Allen would have gone public with, not hide from the light of day.”

While Inciriaga should have received a mandatory eight (8) hour suspension and drug testing, we are left in the dark, with only the illusion of transparency.

“I’m not sure she had that suspension,” said a Lieutenant we contacted for comment. “They [the El Paso Police Department] tell us about as much as they tell the media and the people of El Paso: nothing.”

Other departments, such as the San Francisco Police Department, say an accidental discharge by a police officer should be reported to the public. The incident will be investigated and reviewed, and the results will be made public as well.

The St. Pete Police Department’s Public Information Officer reports issues, such as accidental firearm discharge, to the public.

Retired police officer and Criminal Justice professor Tim Dees shared the following:

Firearms instructors often say there are no “accidental discharges.” Instead, they characterize them as “negligent discharges.” Guns don’t go off by themselves. It’s rare to see an unintended discharge that didn’t involve a violation of some basic firearms handling rule.

For cops, the consequences of a negligent discharge can usually be measured by just how negligent the cop was. Did he or she leave their gun loaded and within reach of a child? That might merit termination and criminal prosecution. Did the gun fire as it was inserted or extracted from a holster? If no one was hurt, that might mean only a verbal reprimand.

Some on-duty police shootings can be characterized as “sympathetic discharges.” One officer fires their gun, and everyone else with a gun in hand fires, too. This is how you get the shootings where there is one lousy guy but six cops, and each of the cops empties their magazine into the bad guy.

When you have time to designate the roles of cops involved in a tactical situation or a dynamic entry, one cop may be identified as the “designated shooter.” If a deadly threat is encountered, the designated officer shoots. Not everyone, just the designated shooter. This can make a police-involved shooting more defensible and possibly less deadly.

What Inciriaga did could have very well led to death. Her actions could have caused other officers to discharge their sidearms, causing further death. The aftermath of her actions could have led to a teaching moment within the Department and an opportunity for complete transparency by the Department.

Once again, we are left with the illusion of transparency and no real answers—only word salad—from the Department and the City of El Paso.