Woman smuggles loaded gun into police HQ

Four city police officers were suspended without pay for allowing a homicide suspect to smuggle a loaded gun into police headquarters by hiding it inside her underwear.

Trillble El had the .25-caliber pistol inside headquarters for about 12 hours before telling police about it. She did not threaten anyone with the gun, said Deputy Commissioner Stuart Bedics.

El, 23, of Philadelphia, was being questioned in a holding cell when she told her interviewer about the weapon.

Bedics, who announced the suspensions Wednesday, said the officers were being disciplined for a "lack of judgment."

El was not made to walk through a metal detector, nor was she thoroughly searched by a female officer when she was brought to the station Oct. 26, Bedics said. She also was permitted to use a public restroom while a City Hall employee was inside, a violation of department policy.

El is charged with fatally shooting a 37-year-old city man in the head.