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A South Carolina officer with an affinity for TikTok has been placed on “investigatory suspension” after his four-year-old son grabbed an unholstered service weapon and shot himself in the head, according to officers with the North Miami Police Department (NMBPD).
On April 3, 2024, Peter Rodler Tidot, 29, was arrested at his parent’s home in Miami-Dade County, Florida, after reporting his adolescent son accidentally shot himself with a SIG Sauer .45 caliber handgun assigned to him by the Columbia Police Department (CPD).
“Upon arrival, officers made contact with the defendant who was outside,” wrote NMBPD detective E. Papikian. “Officers located the child in the bedroom with a gunshot wound to his head and a firearm on the floor next to his body.”
While “P.T.” was transported to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, Tidot was read his Miranda rights and thereafter transported to NMBPD headquarters where he elected to speak with detectives at about 2:30 p.m. EST.
The freshman CPD officer confessed to placing the chambered handgun within his waistband after arriving at his parent’s house with P.T. hours earlier. The Floridian thereafter stowed his service weapon within reach of his four-year-old son – with the safety off.
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“[P.T] was able to take possession of the firearm and subsequently shoot himself on the right side of the head,” continued Papikian. “The defendant exhibited negligence and failure to protect his son and thus, caused great bodily harm.”
Tidot was subsequently charged with one count of child neglect and one count of culpable negligence before being booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He appeared before circuit court judge Mindy S. Glazer the following afternoon.
“So, he didn’t put the safety on for the gun … and his four-year-old shot himself,” reiterated Glazer before imposing a $10,000 bond against the fledgling lawman: $7,500 for child neglect and $2,500 for culpable negligence.
As a condition of Tidot’s release, he is allowed to have supervised contact with his recovering toddler so long as he surrenders any and all firearms, ammunition and concealed weapons permits to the nearest police department upon posting his bail.
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While Tidot has worked as a CPD officer since April 2023, he’s currently listed as a realtor on Macken Realty — a real estate firm specializing in the developing, marketing and selling of exclusive residential and commercial properties throughout South Florida.
The professions appear to have intersected on Tidot’s TikTok landing page, as the officer posted frequent real estate videos while on patrol with CPD. He would simultaneously promote Haitian sovereignty while encouraging his constituents to join law enforcement.
Per protocol, Tidot will remain on investigatory suspension until the disposition of his criminal charges in Florida and the conclusion of an administrative investigation by CPD’s Internal Affairs Unit, according to a department statement.
“We are praying for the speedy recovery of the child and everyone impacted by the incredibly unfortunate incident,” said Columbia police chief W.H. ‘Skip’ Holbrook. “Let this serve as a reminder about the importance of gun safety and proper gun storage.”
If you know of similar cases that deserve investigative scrutiny, please reach out to this media outlet. We’re not only committed to exposing nefarious activity within government — but steadfast in holding our law enforcement as accountable as they hold the public.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
(Dynal Nolan/FITSNews)
Andrew Fancher is a Lone Star Emmy award-winning journalist from Dallas, Texas. Cut from a bloodline of outlaws and lawmen alike, he was the first of his family to graduate college which was accomplished with honors. Got a story idea or news tip for Andy? Email him directly and connect with him socially across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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5 comments
I hope Officer Tidot retains his job and that is son makes a full recovery from his injuries. Mistakes are made, sometimes with tragic results, by the best of us.
Retains his job? No. He never needs to own a gun again.
You never made a mistake that could have had tragic results but for the grace of God? Really?
If he and his son come through this ok, I doubt he would ever make this mistake again. Sadly, sometimes people learn from their mistakes, but they learn well from them.
I’m with Mercy. Tragic lesson to learn. Unk which model Sig, “w safety off”? Only model 1911 .45 has external safety (as far as I know) &always one in the pipe. Carried in a level 3 duty holster, (no OD holster?) So, inaccurate description? Second, professional courtesy, he’s not going to flee, not going to assault someone. Submit the case to the DA, if indicted, turn himself in via his Attorney. It’s a procedure that is afforded those who are not expected to flee, and are reliable. He is a 1 yr rookie. This may end his career. Just a thought, he had to go through a selection process: 1.take a test, 2. get on the list, 3. submit a background packet, get questions asked that most can’t fathom could be asked, then a polygraph, then a hiring board. Then probably 26 weeks Academy training, and 6mo with a field training officer. LEOs do jobs most cannot do, can’t stomach, see accidents a “rubber necker” think they want to see but don’t want to smell the smell, or pick up the body parts. Work weekends and holidays, night shift. You want them to Arrest the guy trying to rob you, defend you when you are being threatened. Allow you to make a mistake, and chastise you, but have some empathy? Citizens want LEOs to be what they themselves can never be. Lots of PDs & S.O.s are now reactive, not proactive. “Because of this” BOT! May his son recover whole, and consideration for circumstances still not disclosed. The “thin blue line” is all there is between you and anarchy or you and good citizens. Pray for them all, no, Pray for America.
See Paul Harvey’s “Policeman”
Retains his job? No. He never needs to own a gun again.