Councilmember Tyron Hampton said he plans to meet with Police Chief Eugene Harris and seek additional information following the release of video showing a Pasadena police officer accidentally shooting a fellow officer during what department officials described as horseplay with loaded firearms.
“I plan to meet with the Chief of Police to discuss this incident and understand his perspective,” Hampton told Pasadena Now. “Additionally, this topic will be part of an upcoming public safety meeting, providing an opportunity for community members to share their input and expectations.”
The comments came days after the Pasadena Police Department released a critical incident video detailing a Sept. 7 shooting inside the department’s parking structure.
According to Police Chief Eugene Harris, the incident occurred at approximately 6:18 p.m. as patrol officers prepared to begin their shifts. Video footage showed one officer driving toward several officers standing near a patrol vehicle.
One of the standing officers drew a firearm and pointed it at the approaching officer before reholstering it. Moments later, an officer seated inside a vehicle drew his own firearm and pointed it toward the standing officer. The weapon discharged, sending a round through the windshield and striking the standing officer in the left shoulder.
The wounded officer later recovered.
Hampton said the incident raises troubling questions about officer conduct and departmental culture.
“While our police department, as a whole, is dedicated to serving our community, there are officers who appear not to realize that wearing that badge is a privilege,” Hampton said in a statement. “The shooting incident involving an officer in September 2025 reflects the poor choices made by specific individuals.”
Hampton said the conduct went beyond simple horseplay.
“Playing with lethal weapons raises serious concerns and undermines the integrity of an otherwise outstanding department, as this transcends mere horseplay,” he said.
The Councilmember said he was particularly disturbed by footage showing an officer pointing a firearm at a colleague without appearing to react.
“What struck me most in the footage was how one officer, while aiming a gun at his colleague inside a vehicle, showed no reaction at all,” Hampton said. “This raises the unsettling question of whether such behavior is normalized.”
Hampton contrasted the incident with efforts by Harris to improve accountability within the department.
“Before our current police chief took the helm, the department experienced incidents involving officers, including DUIs and on-duty drinking, with minimal disciplinary actions taken,” Hampton said. “However, Chief Harris is committed to changing the culture and striving for excellence.”
Still, Hampton said more work remains.
“Accountability must begin at the top, but it also needs to be embraced at all levels,” he said. “Any city employee who witnesses a colleague acting inappropriately should hold their peers accountable.”
As part of his response, Hampton outlined several proposals, including renewing a request to equip officers with “signal side arms,” technology that would automatically activate body-worn cameras within a 50- to 100-foot radius whenever an officer draws a firearm or Taser.
He also said he would seek a report detailing information that can legally be released to the public regarding the incident and personnel actions taken.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Pasadena Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Unit and Critical Incident Review Unit, as well as investigators from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Harris said the department has completed its administrative investigation and imposed disciplinary measures, though details have not been released.
“Horseplay and/or failure to adhere to safety rules and standards of professional conduct will not be tolerated,” Harris said in the department’s critical incident video. “This regretful conduct is not consistent with the expectations and service commitments of this department.”
The chief said the department remains committed to transparency and accountability as the investigations continue.
Hampton said the incident does not reflect the standards of most city employees or the department as a whole.
“Pasadena prides itself on its exceptional public safety and dedicated employees,” Hampton said. “These actions do not reflect the dedicated service that city employees provide every single day.”
He added that rebuilding trust will require continued accountability both inside and outside the department.
“Changing the culture from both the outside and inside begins with trust and accountability,” Hampton said. “I trust that our police chief will accomplish this, as he has already demonstrated his willingness to do so.”
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