NEW YORK -- In response to recent incidents of off-duty police officers firing their weapons after drinking alcohol, Police Commissioner Howard Safir warned last week that he would fire any officer who misused his gun while intoxicated.

The disciplinary directive, handed out on Friday, fell short of a recommendation by the Mayor's Commission to Combat Police Corruption that officers be banned from carrying guns while drinking off duty.

Safir said officers would have discretion about when to carry their weapons, but he suggested that they "should not be in possession of their firearms if there is any possibility that they may become unfit for duty due to the consumption of intoxicants."

Noting that there had been incidents of misconduct, Safir said in a prepared statement: "The public expects police officers to be held to a higher standard of duty and act responsibly when carrying a firearm. This change in policy will insure that that responsibility is taken seriously."

In December 1997, six detectives were suspended after the department said they had fired their guns wildly in the air and beaten a porter following an argument at a Brooklyn restaurant where they had been drinking.

The porter, Reginald Bannerman, fled and was hit less than an hour later by a subway train at the nearby Sterling Street station. Four of the detectives face charges, including assault, prohibited use of weapons, tampering with evidence, intimidating a witness and menacing.

Pub Date: 12/20/98