A La Plata County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant seriously injured himself during firearms training last week.
Lt. Gary Boudreau accidentally shot himself in the leg during a training session with a firearms instructor Aug. 22, Sheriff Sean Smith said. An investigation showed the weapon didn’t malfunction, he said.
“The weapon went off, and the bullet entered his leg, causing a severe injury,” Smith said.
Boudreau was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center and then airlifted to St. Anthony Hospital and Medical Campus in Denver, where he is undergoing treatment, Smith said.
Boudreau has had several surgeries, and Smith couldn’t say when he might be released.
“We are hoping for a full recovery at this point,” he said.
The Sheriff’s Office plans to work with Boudreau so he can return to work, Smith said. Boudreau has worked for the Sheriff’s Office for 18 years and was assigned to the La Plata County Jail.
Boudreau’s injuries will be covered by workers’ compensation, but Smith did ask The Hundred Club of Durango for financial support for the family. The Hundred Club typically supports the families of law enforcement officers and firefighters after their deaths.
Smith said he was aware of only one similar accident, in 2006.
