Florida Policeman Kills Woman In Training Class

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Ahtman**

A Citizen Policy Academy event in Florida ended tragically on Tuesday when a woman was shot with a live round and later died.

The fatal accident took place at a two-hour training session hosted by the Punta Gorda Police Department, which about 35 civilians attended. Two of the participants were randomly selected and staged a mock “shoot/don’t shoot” scenario, in which they made decisions on whether or not to use lethal force in a live role play, according to a statement released by the police. During the first scenario, 73-year-old Mary Knowlton was shot with a live round. Authorities rushed her to Lee Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

"I am devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event," Chief Tom Lewis said. "If you pray, please pray for Mary’s family, and for the officers who were involved. Everyone involved in this accident is in a state of overwhelming shock and grief."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the incident. One officer been placed on administrative leave, the police said.

Florida strikes again!

**Howard A Treesong**

'Live role play' with live ammunition, eh? Whose bright idea was that?

**BigWaaagh**

FL has obviously gone crazy from the Zika...

**lonestarr777**

Can we just change the state of 'Florida' to 'Ruins Everything' already?

**BobtheInquisitor**

Police Academy Citizens on Patrol never ends well.

**Easy E**

Ahtman wrote:

"I am devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event," Chief Tom Lewis said.

Unimaginable event? I find it to be pretty easy to see something like that happening. It is very imaginable.

**Prestor Jon**

It's amazing to me that somebody thought doing a scenario like that with the officer using his duty weapon was a safe idea. There's a reason why they make practice guns.

**Easy E**

Update! This lady was a Minnesota native and not a native Floridian.

http://bringmethenews.com/2016/08/10/minnesota-native-killed-during-florida-citizen-police-academy-session/

**Vaktathi**

How many basic firearms safety rules were violated here? Oh look, all of them.

**Inquisitor Lord Bane**

Can we make a Florida bingo square? The Zim Zam can't cover it all alone anymore...

That being said, The officer who failed to clear his weapon (which shouldn't have been used in the first place) should be losing his job. I doubt he will, but I would never trust that man with a firearm ever again.

**kronk**

Prestor Jon wrote:
It's amazing to me that somebody thought doing a scenario like that with the officer using his duty weapon was a safe idea. There's a reason why they make practice guns.

I agree with Mr. Jon.

That lady should still be alive and well if not for the Head-Up-Rear decision to play with a real gun.

That's a damn shame.

**Frazzled**

Ahtman wrote:
A Citizen Policy Academy event in Florida ended tragically on Tuesday when a woman was shot with a live round and later died.

The fatal accident took place at a two-hour training session hosted by the Punta Gorda Police Department, which about 35 civilians attended. Two of the participants were randomly selected and staged a mock “shoot/don’t shoot” scenario, in which they made decisions on whether or not to use lethal force in a live role play, according to a statement released by the police. During the first scenario, 73-year-old Mary Knowlton was shot with a live round. Authorities rushed her to Lee Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

"I am devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event," Chief Tom Lewis said. "If you pray, please pray for Mary’s family, and for the officers who were involved. Everyone involved in this accident is in a state of overwhelming shock and grief."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the incident. One officer been placed on administrative leave, the police said.

Florida strikes again!

Don't worry. I am sure the officer will not be charged with involuntary manslaughter or similar applicable criminal negligence statutes perquisite to that jurisdiction like the rest of us would be. It was an accident.

**jmurph**

Inquisitor Lord Bane wrote:
Can we make a Florida bingo square? The Zim Zam can't cover it all alone anymore...

That being said, The officer who failed to clear his weapon (which shouldn't have been used in the first place) should be losing his job. I doubt he will, but I would never trust that man with a firearm ever again.

At the least. I would hope they review it for criminal charges. Absolutely no excuse for this.

**WrentheFaceless**

Always relevant.

Spoiler:

**JohnHwangDD**

Frazzled wrote:
Don't worry. I am sure the officer will not be charged with involuntary manslaughter or similar applicable criminal negligence statutes perquisite to that jurisdiction like the rest of us would be. It was an accident.

Accident or no, he shot and killed a white person, not a black person. I think it's 50-50 that he gets charged.

**gorgon**

Frazzled wrote:
Ahtman wrote:
A Citizen Policy Academy event in Florida ended tragically on Tuesday when a woman was shot with a live round and later died.

The fatal accident took place at a two-hour training session hosted by the Punta Gorda Police Department, which about 35 civilians attended. Two of the participants were randomly selected and staged a mock “shoot/don’t shoot” scenario, in which they made decisions on whether or not to use lethal force in a live role play, according to a statement released by the police. During the first scenario, 73-year-old Mary Knowlton was shot with a live round. Authorities rushed her to Lee Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

"I am devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event," Chief Tom Lewis said. "If you pray, please pray for Mary’s family, and for the officers who were involved. Everyone involved in this accident is in a state of overwhelming shock and grief."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the incident. One officer been placed on administrative leave, the police said.

Florida strikes again!

Don't worry. I am sure the officer will not be charged with involuntary manslaughter or similar applicable criminal negligence statutes perquisite to that jurisdiction like the rest of us would be. It was an accident.

Yeah, I'm praying for the officer involved. They have a tough job, you know? The officer had to make a split-second call.

Spoiler:

Mary took the "training" a little too seriously. What would you do?

**JohnHwangDD**

On the plus side, "Real weapons will not be used at future Citizen Police Academy events," so that's some progress, right?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/real-weapons-future-citizen-police-academy-events-woman/story?id=41266304

**Dreadwinter**

Frazzled wrote:
Ahtman wrote:
A Citizen Policy Academy event in Florida ended tragically on Tuesday when a woman was shot with a live round and later died.

The fatal accident took place at a two-hour training session hosted by the Punta Gorda Police Department, which about 35 civilians attended. Two of the participants were randomly selected and staged a mock “shoot/don’t shoot” scenario, in which they made decisions on whether or not to use lethal force in a live role play, according to a statement released by the police. During the first scenario, 73-year-old Mary Knowlton was shot with a live round. Authorities rushed her to Lee Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

"I am devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event," Chief Tom Lewis said. "If you pray, please pray for Mary’s family, and for the officers who were involved. Everyone involved in this accident is in a state of overwhelming shock and grief."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the incident. One officer been placed on administrative leave, the police said.

Florida strikes again!

Don't worry. I am sure the officer will not be charged with involuntary manslaughter or similar applicable criminal negligence statutes perquisite to that jurisdiction like the rest of us would be. It was an accident.

Well, he already feels bad about it. What more do you want? Some form of actual justice? Why you gotta be so harsh on the Police? Police Lives Matter too!

**curran12**

Also rumors abound that the old woman was involved in a parking violation, so really the officer was totally justified. She was a dangerous criminal!

**cuda1179**

If they didn't have a practice gun they could have gotten some dollar-store toy guns. For this scenario it wouldn't have mattered if they didn't look or feel real. I dare say it might be preferable. I wonder if this will turn out like that cop that shot himself in the foot after waving his pistol at a class of high school kids. I believe he sued the department for loss of reputation because he shot himself.

**Hordini**

JohnHwangDD wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Don't worry. I am sure the officer will not be charged with involuntary manslaughter or similar applicable criminal negligence statutes perquisite to that jurisdiction like the rest of us would be. It was an accident.

Accident or no, he shot and killed a white person, not a black person. I think it's 50-50 that he gets charged.

What doe the race of the person have to do with it?

**ZergSmasher**

Hordini wrote:
JohnHwangDD wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Don't worry. I am sure the officer will not be charged with involuntary manslaughter or similar applicable criminal negligence statutes perquisite to that jurisdiction like the rest of us would be. It was an accident.

Accident or no, he shot and killed a white person, not a black person. I think it's 50-50 that he gets charged.

What doe the race of the person have to do with it?

Apparently everything, because every time a cop shoots a black person we barely ever hear the end of it, and it is portrayed as a racist hate crime even if the black person in question WAS TRYING TO KILL THE COP. The race of the person shouldn't matter, but in today's political climate, it seems to be the only thing that matters.

My condolences to the dead lady's family for this tragic accident.

**JohnHwangDD**

Hordini wrote:
JohnHwangDD wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Don't worry. I am sure the officer will not be charged with involuntary manslaughter or similar applicable criminal negligence statutes perquisite to that jurisdiction like the rest of us would be. It was an accident.

Accident or no, he shot and killed a white person, not a black person. I think it's 50-50 that he gets charged.

What doe the race of the person have to do with it?

Everything. Unless there is irrefutable evidence to the contrary, it is never a crime for a white officer to kill a black person.

**jmurph**

JohnHwangDD wrote:
Hordini wrote:
JohnHwangDD wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Don't worry. I am sure the officer will not be charged with involuntary manslaughter or similar applicable criminal negligence statutes perquisite to that jurisdiction like the rest of us would be. It was an accident.

Accident or no, he shot and killed a white person, not a black person. I think it's 50-50 that he gets charged.

What doe the race of the person have to do with it?

Everything. Unless there is irrefutable evidence to the contrary, it is never a crime for a white officer to kill a black person.

Yup, cops are never charged and convicted in such cases. /sarc

But please don't let facts get in the way.

Certainly, there is plenty of room to debate the frequency and severity of officer discipline and prosecution, but such hyperbole is no better than those who seem to think anyone shot by officers is automatically a criminal.

**Frazzled**

Well there has been no charge yet.

**Orlanth**

Howard A Treesong wrote:
'Live role play' with live ammunition, eh? Whose bright idea was that?

Florida of Murica.

Having live guns in training sessions makes sense as you have laws allowing citizens to carry them. Blue plastic guns don't cut it for everything. However guns should be safely stored, safely cared for, unloaded, not pointed at people etc.

Then when it comes to pointing a gun at a person in a scenario, then you get out the blue plastic ones for those tests, preferably one with an operating trigger so instructors can tell if the decision to fire has been made.

**Hordini**

JohnHwangDD wrote:
Hordini wrote:
JohnHwangDD wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Don't worry. I am sure the officer will not be charged with involuntary manslaughter or similar applicable criminal negligence statutes perquisite to that jurisdiction like the rest of us would be. It was an accident.

Accident or no, he shot and killed a white person, not a black person. I think it's 50-50 that he gets charged.

What doe the race of the person have to do with it?

Everything. Unless there is irrefutable evidence to the contrary, it is never a crime for a white officer to kill a black person.

How droll.