COLUMBUS, OH — Columbus Division of Police 1st Assistant Chief LaShanna Potts left her handgun unattended in a public restroom on Tuesday, according to the Columbus Division of Police and the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
The weapon was found in the first-floor women’s restroom that is open to the public inside the Charles D. Shipley building on West Broad Street. Ohio State Highway Patrol recovered the gun around 1 p.m., and police later confirmed it belonged to Potts.
Potts then returned to pick up the weapon. The incident drew attention because Potts serves as Police Chief Elaine Bryant’s second-in-command.
State officials found the gun in a public restroom at the Shipley building
The gun was discovered inside a restroom on the first floor of the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Charles D. Shipley building, a state office building on West Broad Street. Both CPD and ODPS described the restroom as a public-access space.
Ohio State Highway Patrol handled the recovery, and the gun was secured before being linked back to Potts. The building was not placed on lockdown because officials were able to locate the owner.
That decision suggests the situation was resolved quickly once the firearm was identified. State officials have not said how long the gun was left unattended before it was found.
Police said the weapon was returned after Potts was identified
Columbus police confirmed that the handgun was determined to belong to Potts after it was recovered. Once that connection was made, she came back to retrieve it.
The department has not said where Potts was before the gun was discovered or how the lapse happened. The circumstances remain limited to the basic facts released by police and the state department.
Even so, the episode involved one of the city’s top police leaders, making the mistake especially notable inside the department. The incident was handled without an evacuation or broader public safety response.
Potts was referred to the inspector general after the incident
CPD said Potts was referred to the Columbus Department of the Inspector General because of the incident. Police did not say whether she currently faces discipline.
That leaves open what internal review, if any, may follow. No additional details about the referral were provided by the department.
The department also did not describe whether the gun was carried under any specific authorization or what policy may have applied. For now, the public information is limited to the referral and the recovery of the firearm.
Potts joined Bryant’s leadership team after years together in Detroit
Potts was brought into Columbus by Bryant when Bryant became police chief in 2021. The two had previously worked together in the Detroit Police Department before moving to Columbus.
That history made Potts a key member of Bryant’s command team. As first assistant chief, she serves as the department’s second-in-command.
Her role places her among the most visible leaders in the city’s police hierarchy. The incident therefore drew attention not just because a gun was misplaced, but because it involved a senior officer responsible for helping oversee the department.
The episode highlights simple firearm handling mistakes with public consequences
While no one was reported hurt and the building was not locked down, the event underscores how a momentary lapse with a firearm can trigger a formal response. State patrol officers recovered the gun, and the department launched an internal referral afterward.
The public setting also made the mistake more serious than a private mishandling would have been. A firearm left in a restroom inside a state office building created a situation that had to be checked, contained, and documented by law enforcement.
Officials have not said whether any further action will be announced. For now, the case remains an internal matter with a confirmed recovery and an unanswered question about discipline.
