Mary Knowlton was shot and killed Tuesday by a police officer after taking part in a “shoot/don’t shoot” exercise hosted by a police department in southwest Florida.
The 73-year-old was taking part in the role-playing scenario when she was “mistakenly struck with a live round,” according to Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis.
“Our entire police department and all of our city leaders are absolutely devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event,” Lewis said during a news conference at the police station. “I am asking that if you pray, you pray for Mary’s husband and family and for all of the officers and witnesses involved in this incident.”
Knowlton was one of approximately 35 civilians from the community taking part in a two-hour citizen police academy. At one point during the training she and another participant were randomly selected to be put through a “shoot/don’t shoot” scenario intended to demonstrate when police make decisions on using lethal force, according to a statement from the department.
Sue Paquin, a photographer covering the event for the Charlotte Sun, told the Fort Myers News-Press the officer, who was playing the “bad guy” fired at Knowlton, who was playing the “victim” during the scenario.
The scenes are usually acted out with fake or empty weapons, but when the officer fired his weapon, Knowlton was hit with live ammunition.
She was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
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“Everyone involved in this accident is in a state of overwhelming shock and grief,” Lewis told reporters, adding that the officer involved has not been identified and is on administrative leave pending a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation.
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Police have not said why there was live ammunition in the officer’s gun or offered further details about how the tragedy occurred. According to a Punta Gorda city website, the academy is a free, eight-session class which offers “an up-close and personal look at how City government functions.”
A Facebook profile, which appears to belong to Knowlton, said she lives in Punta Gorda with her husband, and had been a librarian at a public library in Savage, Minnesota.
Carolyn Hartwigsen, of Edina, Minnesota, told The Associated Press she was a long-time friend of Knowlton and said she had a love of books she tried to instill in young readers.
“So much is on the internet now. But, books are so important to have in children’s hands. That was important to her,” Hartwigsen said.
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The couple had two sons, Hartwigsen told the AP.
Citizen police academies have been used by law enforcement agencies to improve relations between officers and the community. According to the National Citizens Police Academy Association, there are roughly 30 citizen police academies across the U.S.
“These programs are intended to open the lines of communication between the Community and the Police Department. Generally, the relationship between the police and the citizen is one of “love/hate,” according to National Citizens Police Academy Association. “The Citizens and Police Officers meet each other face to face in a neutral, friendly setting and each becomes a person to the other. In the past, citizens have simply seen a uniform, now they have an understanding about the person behind the badge.”
*With files from the Associated Press
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