Aug. 17-22, 1957

Los Angeles

Officers Robert J. Steele, 25, and James K. Sherratt, 28, were sitting
in Steele’s car at 4 a.m. after finishing their shifts at Newton
Division when a gunman tried to rob them, The Times said.

Both officers, who were not in uniform, reached for Steele’s revolver,
which was on the seat between them, The Times said. But the gun went
off, sending a bullet through Steele’s right thumb and into Sherratt’s
groin. Sherratt underwent surgery at Central Receiving Hospital for
removal of the bullet.

The gunman fled when the shot was fired, The Times said.

Except there was no attempted holdup and no gunman. Steele and Sherratt
had been off duty for two hours and were drinking in Steele’s car when
the shooting occurred, the Mirror said.

Sherratt resigned from the department. Steele and Officer T.J. Brown, a
witness, were suspended pending a board of rights inquiry on charges of
filing a false report, misuse of firearms and failure to report a
gunshot.

The next year, a man crossing the road at 7th Street and Central Avenue
died after being hit by car driven by James K. Sherratt of West Covina, The Times said. Sherratt was
not charged.

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