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[advocate]

BOCA RATON -- A Boca Raton police officer left her handgun in a public bathroom at a resort shortly before Vice President Dick Cheney arrived for a fundraiser.

Authorities found the loaded pistol while making a security sweep of the Boca Raton Resort & Club on March 6. The gun belonged to Sgt. Nicole Girardi, who was reprimanded by her supervisor, Capt. Matthew Duggan.
``Upon return of the sidearm, you assumed full responsibility for the event and in doing so recognizing the gravity of the issue,'' Duggan wrote in a letter about the incident placed in Girardi's personnel file. Duggan noted that a similar mistake in the future could cost Girardi her job.

Secret Service spokesman Steve Caruso said the agency was aware of the incident but declined to comment further, adding that it was resolved before Cheney arrived.

Cheney spoke to a crowd of Republicans at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw.

Girardi received no punishment for the incident other than a reprimand, Boca Raton Sgt. Jeff Kelly said Tuesday.