Wakayama police inspector suspended for pointing gun at colleague

A chief inspector in his 40s has been referred to prosecutors by Wakayama Prefectural Police on Tuesday on suspicion of breaking Japan’s sword and guns control law after he allegedly repeatedly pointed a handgun at a colleague while playing about during training breaks.

He resigned on Tuesday after the police suspended him for six months.

During breaks in investigation training in July and August, the officer allegedly pointed the muzzle at the colleague while the weapon was loaded with paint bullets that burst and scattered paint upon impact.

Mitsuji Kimura, chief inspector general at the Wakayama police, told a committee of the prefectural assembly on Tuesday, “It is unacceptable for an officer to point a handgun, which (the police are) given special permission to possess, at another officer as a joke.”