DISCIPLINARY action is to be taken against police officers responsible for a massive blunder that allowed a detainee to pull a gun and threaten their colleagues after he was placed in a holding area on Tuesday.

Yesterday, the Police High Command confirmed that the bizarre incident happened at the Hunt's Bay Police Station and not the Mobile Reserve headquarters as earlier reported.

A reliable source told the Jamaica Observer that the man pulled a 9mm Ruger pistol, which was loaded with eight live rounds, and threatened officers in the vicinity, causing them to flee.

It took the other detainees to wrestle the gun from the man to prevent him from firing. The weapon was handed over to the officers. The detainee has since been charged in relation to the incident.

"The implications are that if the criminal was able to have his way, a total of eight police officers could have lost their lives because of the blunder of their fellow officers," the upset police source told the Observer.

Another police source described the situation as shameful.

"It was an embarrassing situation that sent several police scampering after the criminal pulled the gun and started to make several threats," said the source.

Yesterday, director of communication for the Jamaica Constabulary Force Karl Angell said the incident took place after an operation involving members of the Mobile Reserve and the Jamaica Defence Force in the St Andrew South Police Division.

Meanwhile, head of the St Andrew South Police Delroy Hewitt said the incident was unfortunate and that it was still being investigated. He warned that disciplinary action could follow.