To : All members of the Department of Corrections

From : Max Kohn, brother of Officer Bernard Kohn (deceased)

Date:  12/24/96

Re: Gun safety


Ladies and gentlemen,

    On July 19, 1996; Officer Bernard Kohn, my brother, accidentally 
shot himself in the head with his 9mm automatic. The next morning, he 
died. He had been showing my sister and my niece how the safety of his 
weapon worked and neglected to remove the bullets from the gun.

    In the wake of that event, the family has been struggling to 
regain its footing and come to terms with this tragedy that didn't 
have to happen. Unlike a heart attack or a stroke, this is preventable 
by following normal gun safety rules.

    There is a sense of power with owning and possessing a weapon but
there is also a sense of responsibility that should go hand in hand 
with that. Use your heads or lose it...that's the main rule of thumb.
It's easy to get caught up in the power and prestige of the badge and 
gun. I know that many people come out of the academy, get their shield 
and weapon, and think they are on the top of the mountain.

     Please keep in mind the responsiblity that goes with that shield 
and gun. The gun is supposed to be a deterrent to crime. If you pull 
it from the holster, please make sure it's for the right reasons: 
self-protection, the protection of others, or to clean it. If it's 
anything than for protection, remove the bullets. Keep it locked up so 
your kids don't get to it. If you are going to demonstrate something, 
be sure the bullets are out of it, including the one in the chamber.
Don't play with the gun as it's not a toy. When it goes off, anything 
the bullet hits will be damaged and anyone it hits will be injured or 
dead.  If you pull the gun for protection (yours or someone elses') 
keep in mind that the moment you pull that trigger, you better be 
ready to hurt or kill someone so make sure you reasons are right.

     Whatever you do, just be extra careful. My family is almost 
destroyed by the death of my brother. If I can prevent one other 
officer from dying like my brother did or one other family from going 
through what I am, then my brother will not have died in vain. I just 
can't rest with that on my head...there had to be a purpose.

     A final note. I have heard that several officers noticed that the 
weeks shortly before my brother's death that he was seen brooding and 
depressed. I know about the code of silence among officers, but 
considering the alternative, isn't it wiser to attempt to talk to a 
depressed officer or to the EAP or someone and try to get that officer 
some help?  Next time you see an officer who's depressed, find a way 
to help him. Even if you fail, at least you can say you tried. You may 
succeed. It's definitely worth the effort.

     The work you do is most stressful and usually goes 
unappreciated. I wish you all well and ask God to protect all of you 
daily. God bless you all.



                                  Max Kohn
                   brother of Officer Bernard Kohn (1963-1996)