McDonough County Sheriff Nick Petitgout has placed Chief Deputy Adam Cremer on administrative leave following the accidental discharge of the deputy’s firearm on the grounds of MacArthur School Thursday evening during a cookout and the Homecoming Powderpuff football game.
No injuries were reported in the incident. Several students were in the vicinity of the incident.
“This should never have happened,” Sheriff Petitgout said in a statement Thursday. “The safety and security of students and school personnel is our highest priority. We are grateful that no one was physically harmed, but we recognize the concern and fear this caused within the community.”
The sheriff’s office has called in the Macomb Police Department to conduct an independent investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, Cremer will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of the inquiry.
In response to the incident, the sheriff’s office is reviewing its firearm handling policies and conducting a safety audit of law enforcement practices in and around schools to ensure the highest standards are met.
Sheriff Petitgout pledged ongoing transparency and accountability.
“Our words alone are not enough. You deserve not just accountability, but real assurance that this will not happen again,” he said. “We will learn from this incident and make the necessary changes to ensure our deputies uphold the highest standards of professionalism and safety.”
The sheriff’s office will continue working closely with school officials, parents, and community partners to reinforce confidence in school safety and law enforcement operations as the investigation progresses.
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