COVINA >> Two rookie Covina police officers safely apprehended 15-year-old girl who pointed a gun at them Sunday in what a police lieutenant described as an exceptional display of restraint and quick thinking.
Covina police Lt. Tim Doonan said the two officers responded about 10 a.m. to a report of a domestic disturbance in which the girl was irate with her parents at the family’s home in the 300 block of South First Avenue.
The officers went into the family’s apartment to talk to the teen, who was in her bedroom, Doonan said.
“The officers were in the doorway. After a very brief conversation, she pulled a handgun from her waistband area,” Doonan said. “She actually pointed it at the officers.”
The officers drew their own weapons and retreated into the hallway, where they began ordering the girl to drop the pistol and surrender, the Doonan said. She ultimately raised her hands and dropped the gun.
The Beretta pistol brandished by the girl was real, but was found to have been modified to be unable to fire, Doonan said. Officials took the girl for psychiatric evaluation.
The lieutenant commended the officers on the cool-headed and restrained manner in which they dealt with the situation, which could easily have resulted in an officer-involved shooting, despite their lack of experience.
One of the two officers completed training three weeks ago, he said. The other was a reserve officer with less than a year on duty.