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SALT LAKE CITY — David West was visiting a friend near a Salt Lake police substation when he spotted the blue Chevrolet with something on its trunk.
"I started flashing my lights and honking my horn, but I couldn't get his attention," the 73-year-old Murray man said of the Chevrolet's driver.
West thought he saw the butt of a gun, but wasn't sure. When the object slid from the trunk to the asphalt, he saw it spark.
I knew by the time I got home I had to turn (the gun) in. I'm sorry it took me so long to do that. I'm glad they have it back. I hope there's no real serious problems or reprisals.
–David West
"I could see it dig in," he said. "I could tell it was heavy."
By the time he turned around and waited for a pause in traffic flow, the vehicle was long gone. At first, he said he thought: "I found me a gun," but knew he had to return it.
He drove around for a bit, trying to find the car, but he tries to get home to his wife of 50 years by 5 p.m.
"My wife has some health issues," he said. "So I have to take care of that."
The next day, June 9, the Salt Lake Police Department issued a press release explaining that an officer had lost his weapon after placing his weapon on the trunk of his car while loading up other items. The officer had been using the gym at the Pioneer Precinct, 1040 W. 700 South.
When the police officer realized his mistake 15 minutes later and returned to the area, the black Glock was gone.
Officers went door-to-door and offered a $200 reward for the weapon's return.
Meanwhile, West had taken the gun home. He knew it was a police weapon, because "SLPD" was engraved on its magazine. It smelled of cigarette smoke. When the scent started to bother him, West cleaned the weapon.
"The next day, we had our 9-year-old granddaughter to take care of," he said. "I didn't think about it."
That evening, West said he was watching the 10:00 news and saw a report about a police officer losing his gun.
"I thought, 'Well, I can't sleep tonight,'" West recalled.
He returned to to the Pioneer Precinct and tried to return the gun there, but no one responded to his knocks at the door. He then called police dispatch. Around midnight, an officer came to collect the weapon.
"I knew by the time I got home I had to turn (the gun) in," West said. "I'm sorry it took me so long to do that. I'm glad they have it back. I hope there's no real serious problems or reprisals."
West, a Navy man who served from 1954 to 1957, said he knows guns. Tending to the gun, and even cleaning it, came "easy." Looking back, he's glad it was someone like him who found the weapon.
"You never know in our society today when someone will confront you," he said. "So, the less opportunities for things like that, the better."
But then again, he said he likes to think most people would have done the right thing and returned the firearm.
"I believe that most people are basically honest," West said.
He proudly displayed a "challenge coin" given to him by police to recognize service to the community. He said he was also given a $200 cash reward. As to what he would do with the money, he isn't quite sure.
"I haven't decided yet," he said. "We've got a lot of bills, so I'm sure it will come in handy."
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
