The Pasadena Police Department has released footage of a “horseplay” incident between officers that resulted in one officer inadvertently shooting the other in an incident captured on a dash camera.
Video recorded on Sept. 7, 2025, shows a pair of Pasadena police officers standing outside their cruiser in the department’s parking garage. The video was recorded from the dash camera of an approaching police cruiser.
“One of the standing officers inappropriately and in a quick-draw fashion drew his firearm from his holster and pointed it at the officer seated in the approaching unit. After a few seconds, he reholstered the gun,” Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris said. “Moments later, the seated officer subsequently drew his firearm while still in the driver’s seat and pointed it towards the other officer.”
During this exchange, the driving officer’s firearm struck the cruiser’s front windshield and the left shoulder of the standing officer, Harris said.
The police chief described the shooting as an “unsafe and out-of-policy horseplay involving loaded firearms.” He added that the video’s delayed release to the public was to help with the investigation into the matter.
As a result of the investigation, disciplinary measures were taken, according to Harris. The department did not specify which officer was disciplined, or how. Neither officer who was involved in the incident was identified.
“Horseplay and/or failure to adhere to safety rules and standards of professional conduct will not be tolerated,” Harris said. “This regretful conduct is not consistent with the expectations and service commitments of this department…”
The injured officer was treated for his wound and has since recovered, according to Harris.