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.
I thought they made blue plastic Glocks for this. Just damn. So sad.
Because We Told You So.TM
“The Punta Gorda Police Department realizes that our community will have many questions about this incident.
Understatement of the Year Award
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.
Gee, what could possibly go wrong?
Geeezzz. The whole world has gone insane.
An answer to those who routinely maintain that police are the only ones adequately trained to handle firearms.
Imagine if she were black.
No accident...at the very least gross negligence AND negligent homicide. Cop needs to be fired and prosecuted. This was unforgivable.
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.
Agreed.
And I thought Barney Fife had retired.
Isn’t a punta gorda a large.... ?
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.
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.
Yup. You don’t do some sort of role play with an actual piece.
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