Patrolman John Goodin

John Goodin

Patrolman John Goodin died eight hours after accidentally shooting himself with a 12 gauge shotgun.

He had just finished a training session and was going to assist other officers who were having problems near an off-campus university building complex. Patrolman Goodin and another officer were taking an unmarked car to the area. He opened the driver’s door of the patrol car and reached for the shotgun, grabbing it by the barrel. As he pulled it towards him, the trigger caught on the VASCAR speed-checking unit mounted in the front seat and discharged. The blast struck him in the stomach.

He was transported to O'Bleness Hospital where he died from his wounds.

Patrolman Goodin was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Athens Police Department for two years. He was survived by a wife and an 11-month-old son.