But the mistake in this instance was leaving a gun.
Indiana State Police report a trooper left his loaded handgun in the men's room at a Lowe's home improvement store in Fort Wayne.
The trooper was off-duty.
By the time he realized the weapon was missing -- a store employee had found it and turned it over to local police.
State police officials haven't named the trooper involved.
But a local TV station reports he'll stay on duty while the case of the misplaced gun is investigated.
