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Florida woman dead after accidentally shot by officer during citizen police academy roleplay
New York Daily News ^ | August 9, 2016 | Keri Blakinger

Posted on 08/09/2016 9:02:24 PM PDT by grundle

A woman is dead after she was accidentally shot by a Florida police officer in a citizen training academy roleplay scenario gone wrong.

Mary Knowlton was one of two participants randomly selected from a group of 35 for a shoot-don’t shoot simulation during a two-hour training Tuesday at the Punta Gorda Police Department, Chief Tom Lewis told reporters at a press conference.

“During the first scenario, in a horrible accident participant Mary Knowlton was mistakenly struck by a live round,” Lewis said.

She was transported to the local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

“I am asking that if you pray, you pray for Mary’s husband and family and the officers and witnesses involved in this incident,” Lewis continued. “Everyone involved is in a state of overwhelming shock and grief.”

Florida Department of Law Enforcement is already on scene investigating.

“The Punta Gorda Police Department realizes that our community will have many questions about this incident. However, we are taking care not to jeopardize the investigation,” Lewis said.

He declined to answer any questions from reporters on scene and did not address why there were live rounds in the weapon.

The officer, who has not been named, is on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Punta Gorda is a city of 17,000 located on the Gulf Coast, located just over 20 miles northwest of Fort Myers.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 23; banglist; donutwatch; doughnutwatch; florida; glock; leo; maryknowlton; police; puntagorda
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1 posted on 08/09/2016 9:02:24 PM PDT by grundle
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To: grundle

I thought they made blue plastic Glocks for this. Just damn. So sad.


2 posted on 08/09/2016 9:06:48 PM PDT by umgud (ban all infidelaphobics)
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To: grundle
Remember kids, only Highly Trained Government Officials Should EVER be allowed anywhere *near* a firearm!

Because We Told You So.TM

3 posted on 08/09/2016 9:07:11 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: grundle

“The Punta Gorda Police Department realizes that our community will have many questions about this incident.

Understatement of the Year Award


4 posted on 08/09/2016 9:07:52 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: grundle

There is no excuse for not using a fake gun and/or checking his weapon so no accident. Yank his badge and fire his butt.


5 posted on 08/09/2016 9:08:16 PM PDT by bgill (From the CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: grundle
Mary Knowlton was one of two participants randomly selected from a group of 35 for a shoot-don’t shoot simulation

Gee, what could possibly go wrong?

6 posted on 08/09/2016 9:09:13 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: grundle
...why was there live ammo on the range?
This sort of accident would have people's careers [and very likely jail-time] if it were military.
7 posted on 08/09/2016 9:10:24 PM PDT by Edward.Fish
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To: grundle

Geeezzz. The whole world has gone insane.


8 posted on 08/09/2016 9:10:25 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Let's Make Our Government and Founding Documents Great Again!)
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To: grundle

An answer to those who routinely maintain that police are the only ones adequately trained to handle firearms.


9 posted on 08/09/2016 9:10:38 PM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: dfwgator

Imagine if she were black.


10 posted on 08/09/2016 9:11:27 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: bgill

No accident...at the very least gross negligence AND negligent homicide. Cop needs to be fired and prosecuted. This was unforgivable.


11 posted on 08/09/2016 9:12:44 PM PDT by rottndog ('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
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To: bgill

Exactly. If a blue trainer wasn’t available, you damn-sure make sure the weapon is empty. Then you double and triple check, then get someone else to check it too. No excuse for this. That guy belongs in prison for the negligent death.


12 posted on 08/09/2016 9:13:27 PM PDT by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: rottndog

Agreed.


13 posted on 08/09/2016 9:13:52 PM PDT by TheDon (BO must be replaced immediately for the good of the nation and the world!)
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To: grey_whiskers

"...The officer was the only person in that room who was professional enough, that I know of, to carry the Glock .40 pistol..."

14 posted on 08/09/2016 9:14:38 PM PDT by Blue Jays
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To: bgill

And I thought Barney Fife had retired.


15 posted on 08/09/2016 9:16:02 PM PDT by Bullish (That establishment heads from both sides are exploding over Trump is the very best part.)
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To: dfwgator

Isn’t a punta gorda a large.... ?


16 posted on 08/09/2016 9:16:06 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: grundle
No hesitation training.


17 posted on 08/09/2016 9:17:14 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: grundle

Use a cap gun, gun with plugged barrel for blanks, electronic gun that goes bang. You will also see n in training magazines and/or guns meant for blanks will have some blue on them.


18 posted on 08/09/2016 9:17:45 PM PDT by LukeL
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To: ThunderSleeps

I mean...shit....just takr the barrel out and you don’t even have to worry.....

Lets face facts though...the cops they have doing the citizen academy are not your meat eaters who train hard and chase criminals. They are the police who find a inside job as quick as they can because the real world is scary.


19 posted on 08/09/2016 9:18:06 PM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (Trump, effective govt. that will be great for crony "art of the deal" capitalists)
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To: bgill

Yup. You don’t do some sort of role play with an actual piece.


20 posted on 08/09/2016 9:18:08 PM PDT by Flick Lives (TRIGGER WARNING - Posts may require application of sarcasm filter)
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