Police Garage Game Turns Bloody

Pasadena’s police video release shows a jarring lapse that conservatives should not shrug off: a trained officer drew a gun on a coworker, and the department fired him after reviewing the case.

Quick Take

Dashcam footage released by the Pasadena Police Department shows Officer Roy Alatorre drawing and aiming his firearm at a seated fellow officer before the shot^[1]^[2].
Chief Gene Harris called the conduct “unsafe and out-of-policy horseplay involving loaded firearms” and said Alatorre was terminated^[1]^[3].
The wounded officer recovered and remains employed, while the criminal investigation still continues with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office^[1]^[3].
The case has been framed by major outlets and city leaders as “horseplay,” but the released video leaves key questions unanswered about intent and the exact discharge^[1]^[2]^[6].

Video Release Shows a Dangerous Chain of Events

Pasadena police released dashcam footage that captures the moment an officer drew a handgun inside a parking garage and pointed it at a seated colleague. The clip then cuts off before the actual discharge, so it does not show the bullet striking the other officer. Even so, the public record shows more than a simple mistake. It shows reckless handling of a loaded weapon inside a police facility.^[1]^[2]^[5]

Chief Gene Harris identified the fired officer as Roy Alatorre and said the conduct was “unsafe and out-of-policy horseplay involving loaded firearms.” He also said the department finished its administrative review and removed Alatorre from the force. The injured officer survived the wound, recovered, and stayed on the job. That matters because it confirms this was not a harmless stunt or a false alarm.^[1]^[3]

Accountability Still Leaves Open Questions

The department said the incident is being handled as an officer-involved shooting, which triggered the public release of the video under California law. Harris also said the criminal investigation and use-of-force review remain open and have been sent to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. That is the right next step. When an officer fires at a coworker, the public deserves a full forensic account, not just a quick label.^[1]^[2]

Some details still remain unclear. The released footage does not show the exact moment of discharge, and the city did not spell out every disciplinary step beyond the firing. Harris also said it is unclear whether the injured officer will face further discipline. Those gaps matter. A serious case like this should be documented with full video, witness statements, and a clear explanation of how a loaded gun came to be pointed at a teammate.^[1]

Why the Framing Matters

Much of the coverage has used the same soft language: “horseplay,” “juvenile,” and “accidental.” That may sound neat for television, but it can blur the line between carelessness and conduct that puts lives at risk. The public video shows intentional drawing and aiming of a firearm before the shot, which is why the factual record deserves more scrutiny than a quick media slogan. Police culture should never normalize gun games in a parking garage.^[1]^[2]^[6]

Mayor Victor Gordo also condemned the conduct as “juvenile and very dangerous,” and that reaction reflects the seriousness of the breach. Conservatives often hear about “training” and “professional standards” from officials, but those words mean little if officers treat loaded weapons like toys. This case is a reminder that order, discipline, and respect for firearms are not optional. They are basic duties, especially for people sworn to carry guns under law.^[15]

There is also a broader lesson here about public trust. When the police department, the mayor, and national media all settle quickly on one narrative, citizens should still ask for the full record. The released video supports discipline, but it does not answer every question about intent, mechanics, or the exact discharge. That is why the ongoing criminal review, the forensic analysis, and the final district attorney decision remain important to watch.^[1]^[13]^[14]