Key-Slinging Cop Triggers Sprinkler Causing A Flood In Brooklyn Precinct [Watch]

KEY POINTS

The NYPD's 72nd Precinct was flooded after an officer accidentally broke a sprinkler head
The officer tried to throw a set of patrol car keys to another cop, but the keys hit the sprinkler instead
Electronics as well as records were damaged after the sprinkler went off, according to reports

A New York Police Department (NYPD) precinct was flooded Monday after an officer accidentally triggered the sprinkler system with a bad throw, officials said.

An unnamed NYPD sergeant was working in the 72nd Precinct in Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn, at around 3:40 a.m. Monday when he attempted to throw a set of patrol car keys to another officer, New York Daily News reported, citing police sources.

The keys, however, hit a ceiling sprinkler instead, causing the device to pour water onto the first floor, according to the outlet.

"A member of the service tossed keys to another member when it accidentally struck a sprinkler head, causing the single sprinkler to go off," an NYPD spokesman was quoted as saying by the New York Post.

"The whole first floor is flooded, including the commanding officer’s office, CompStat, everything," a police source told the Daily News.

Footage of the incident showed the sprinkler on full blast inside the precinct and water pooling on the floor.

"Wait, how long has this been going on? That is a lot of water," an out-of-frame woman can be heard saying in the video as the broken sprinkler was shown still dousing a section of the station.

The incident was deemed an honest mistake, an NYPD spokesman said Tuesday.

"This was a complete accident," NYPD Sgt. Edward Riley said. "Officers immediately took action to shut off the water, causing minimal damage."

One source, however, described the incident as a "complete disaster" that resulted in damaged electronics and records, as well as the transfer of prisoners.

It was unclear if the sergeant was penalized for the accident.

A similar incident occurred in Hays, Kansas, in early August when a sprinkler was accidentally activated in an emergency communications center, damaging more than $80,000 worth of computer and phone equipment.

Technicians had soldered too close to a sprinkler head in the server room near the Ellis County Dispatch Center on Aug. 2, which caused water to be sprayed on network, server and phone equipment inside the room.