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Victoria police chief Jamie Graham at the Victoria Police Department in Victoria, June 15, 2010.

Victoria's police chief has been reprimanded after he admitted to leaving his gun under the seat of his car, making an already bad situation worse.

The Victoria Police Board announced Wednesday that it has issued a formal written reprimand to Chief Jamie Graham, who has admitted to leaving the weapon behind in his vehicle while he attended a news conference.

"Just as I expect every member of this department to take full responsibility for their actions, I take responsibility for this incident and I accept the discipline authority's findings," Chief Graham said in a statement.

The discovery was made as part of a search for missing riot gear that included a shotgun, tear gas, smoke canisters and protective vests. The gear still hasn't been found.

Chief Graham said he himself ordered a search of the Victoria police building Feb. 17 for the missing riot gear.

During the search, investigators found his service pistol under the seat of his car in the police department's secure underground parkade.

"I had left the pistol there during the period of time when I was taking part in a news conference for the missing equipment," he said.

Chief Graham said he informed Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin, who is the police board chair, and the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner. Two deputy chief constables from the Victoria police launched an investigation.

Chief Graham said Mr. Fortin has accepted the findings of that investigation and issued him a reprimand.

"Chief Graham was found to have not properly followed department policy and practice regarding the storage of the firearm," the board announced after the investigation.

The police board said in a news release firearms stored at headquarters must be unloaded, placed inside a locking drawer within a secured locker and must not be left unattended.

The board said Chief Graham disclosed the "transgression" himself to Mr. Fortin, and took responsibility for the "mistake," which is considered to be neglect of duty under the Police Act.

The neglect of duty section of the Police Act doesn't include anything about firearms offences, but it does say an officer commits the offence if he or she "...fails to work in accordance with orders..."

However, offences dealing with the improper storage of firearms are included in Canada's Criminal Code.

Section 86 deals with the careless use of firearms and the contravention of storage regulations.

In many circumstances, police officers are exempted from firearms regulations because to do otherwise would prevent them from performing heir jobs, said Blair Hagen, executive vice-president of communications for the National Firearms Association.

Nonetheless, Mr. Hagen said there are some clear rules for storing handguns, which are considered to be restricted weapons.

He said handguns must have a lock on the trigger and be stored in an opaque case.

If they are stored in a motor vehicle, they must also be locked out of sight in a trunk.

And if they are stored inside a home, handguns must have a trigger lock and must be locked in a safe or a storage cabinet.

"As far as whether the firearm ... was stored safely or not, it would be my opinion that under no circumstances would it ever be considered safely stored in the state that it was found," said Mr. Hagen.

Attorney General Shirley Bond declined to comment on the issue Wednesday.

"Do I expect chiefs of police to show leadership and demonstrate that? Absolutely I do," she said.

The police-board ruling wasn't the first time Chief Graham has found himself in hot water.

In February 2011, the board ruled he had engaged in "discreditable conduct" when he told a security conference that an undercover officer drove a bus full of protesters to a rally at the start of the Olympic torch relay in the fall of 2009.

Chief Graham asked the police complaints commissioner to review the board's decision, which it agreed to do by appointing a retired judge to conduct a hearing.

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