Lucky He's Alive

One of the more notorious breakdowns in facility security where this guy was able to scale an exterior fire escape over at Homan Square, access a propped open door (ventilation you know) and enter an unlocked classroom full of duty weapons, stealing three along with a bullet proof vest.  Then the fun began:

• You may remember that Donald Patrick, 49, went to CPD’s Homan Square facility in September 2022 to retrieve some property from the Evidence and Recovered Property Section. After speaking with a sergeant and a security guard about the property, Patrick climbed an exterior fire escape and entered a room where SWAT team members were training, officials said.

  Patrick allegedly took three unloaded guns from a table in the training area and climbed onto a catwalk that was part of the training scenario. Only then did an officer realize that Patrick had a gun.

  Officials said the SWAT class was initially confused, thinking that Patrick may have been part of the training exercise. But they soon realized that he was an armed intruder. During the training exercise, one officer, who was unarmed, jumped from the catwalk and broke his foot. Other cops declared an “active shooter” incident.

  Patrick donned a bulletproof vest he found in the facility and walked around while displaying two of the guns he took from the training area, prosecutors said. He placed the third firearm in his pocket.

  Officers ordered Patrick to drop the guns and one cop shot Patrick. SWAT medical personnel treated him until a fire department ambulance arrived.

Only eight years, so he'll be out in 2026 after serving four.