Maxwell and Pechal Honored for Saving Officer’s Life

The City of La Grange, La Grange Police Department and Fayette County EMS presented life saving awards to the two men who saved the life of La Grange Police Officer Kevin Currington last month.

Currington nearly died from blood loss after his service pistol unintentionally discharged inside of his holster. The pistol, a SIG Sauer P320, has been the subject of several lawsuits due to similar incidents across the nation.

Currington had just finished locking the gates for the night at Northside Park in La Grange on May 9 when the incident happened. Currington was walking back to his patrol car when the gun fired without him touching it. The bullet struck Currington’s right leg below the knee, hitting an artery and a bone.

A citizen who lives nearby, Michael Pechal, heard the gunshot and ran to assist. Currington called for help on the radio. La Grange Police Officer Mitchell Maxwell was the first officer to arrive. Currington was bleeding profusely from his wound. Pechal used a belt as a makeshift tourniquet to help stop the bleeding. Maxwell applied his department-issued tourniquet to Currington’s leg.

Fayette County EMS Director Josh Vandever said their actions saved Currington’s life that day.

The La Grange City Council recognized the two men at their meeting on Monday, June 24. Dozens of their family members and fellow officers were on hand for the occasion, along with Currington and his family.

“It’s good to see everybody,” Currington said. “It’s good to see anybody, really. I’m just happy to be here.”

“I’d do it again,” Pechal said.

La Grange Mayor Jan Dockery read proclamations recognizing Maxwell and Pechal for their fast action and heroism that night. Vandever presented both men with plaques from the Fayette County EMS. La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath also presented Maxwell with a special pin to wear on his uniform.

Currington still has a long road to recovery. His leg remains in bandages and he has to wear a protective boot. He is able to walk, though. But he has no use of his foot.

“The wound hasn’t totally healed yet,” he said. “The pieces of the bullet are still in my leg. That could cause a problem too, so there might be a future surgery. The first month was nothing but pain. It’s a little better now. But some nights, I can’t sleep because it gets stirred up.”

Currington said he is contemplating legal action against the gun manufacturer, SIG Sauer. The company has faced dozens of lawsuits across the country involving so-called “uncommanded discharges” of the P320 pistol.

Just days ago, on June 20, a Georgia jury found SIG Sauer liable for the shooting of Robert Lang, a private citizen from Roswell, Georgia. According to the lawsuit, Lang was unholstering his gun after he got home from work when it fired without him touching the trigger. The bullet went through Lang’s thigh and came out above his kneecap. The jury awarded $2.35 million in damages.

Unlike that case, however, Currington never even touched his gun, according to Gilbreath. Last month, Gilbreath told the Record that officer-worn body cam video from the night of Currington’s shooting proves that fact. Currington’s gun, he said, was still inside the holster when Maxwell arrived. Later, when Maxwell went to secure Currington’s pistol, he found the gun was jammed inside of the holster with the empty shell casing stuck in the chamber, meaning that the gun failed to cycle after the shot because it was locked in Currington’s holster.

Currington told the Record he has been following the SIG Sauer lawsuits, and he is looking into hiring an attorney.