Mary Ann Cavazos
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
A 28-year-old newly hired Beeville Police Department recruit had started classes at Del Mar College’s Basic Peace Officer program less than a week before he fatally shot himself Sunday, according to Beeville and Del Mar College officials.
Police found Timothy Meserve with a gunshot wound to his head about 8:30 p.m. in his Beeville home. Acting Beeville Police Chief Joe Trevino said Meserve had to complete the Del Mar program before he could become an officer.
The shooting is under investigation but appears to be an accident, Trevino said.
"(Meserve) was apparently handling his own gun when the gun went off, killing him,” Trevino said in a written statement. “All the evidence and information that we have gathered so far, points to an accidental discharge.”
Trevino would not release any other details of the incident.
Nueces County Medical Examiner Ray Fernandez on Tuesday said an autopsy was performed but a final ruling would not be released until a police report and toxicology results were complete.
According to a written statement released by Del Mar College officials, Meserve started his first day of class in the Basic Peace Officer program Jan. 16.
The program is a requirement of all police officers in Texas. Firearms training takes places in the 12th week of the semester, the statement said.
Services for Meserve, who also worked as a jailer for the Bee County Sheriff’s Department, will be at 6 p.m. today at Galloway & Sons Funeral Home in Beeville.
Copyright 2007 Caller-Times Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved