6 November—Brigitte Ruthman reports in this morning’s Republican-American that a rookie state trooper, Romello Lumpkin, was caught on camera stealing a 10-round magazine for his Sig Sauer service pistol from the Newington Gun Exchange. Lumpkin graduated from the police academy in August and is assigned to the Hartford barracks.

Given the video evidence, the details of the incident evidently aren’t in question, but the state police are conducting an internal investigation, whatever that means. Twenty-six-year-old Lumpkin wasn’t arrested and remains on the job. That’s because the store management refused to press charges against the young cop.

What’s particularly interesting and curious is that the gun-shop management, after contacting Lumpkin directly and getting back the stolen magazine, reported the incident to the state police but—to repeat—have refused to pursue an arrest. They just want Lumpkin to keep away.

Lumpkin reacted as might be expected when confronted by a Newington policeman. The rookie claimed it was all a misunderstanding, even though the video clearly shows intent. But I mustn’t say that because in the circumstance of no arrest or admission of guilt everything must remain alleged.

It’s entirely understandable that the Newington gun dealers didn’t press charges after reporting the theft of a $40 item to the authorities. They’d probably do the same for anyone committing a Class D misdemeanor, the least serious kind. Putting the fear of the lord in the perp was good for PR and business, especially, one would expect, with other cops.

What I don’t get is why Lumpkin (allegedly) lifted the magazine in the first place. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence, perception, and experience—especially a cop—would know that CCTV cameras were virtually everywhere—and especially in gun shops. Didn’t they teach him that at the police academy?

Even if Lumpkin had debts, he had been paid almost $1,000 a week while at the police academy and almost $1,200 upon graduation. Plus fantastic benefits, of course. So why would he risk his career for a $40 pistol magazine of all things? Can we trust this cop’s judgement?

And it must be noted that in this unconstitutionally anti-gun state, as of 2014, the 12-round magazine that Romello Lumpkin actually paid for would be illegal for anyone not in law enforcement and a few other vocations to purchase or possess outside of one’s own residence . . .