Woman, 73, fatally shot by Florida officer role-playing as ‘bad guy’ during citizen police academy

[SlyPokerDog]

Mary Knowlton arrived at the Punta Gorda, Fla., police station Tuesday night to learn how to be a community steward.

The 73-year-old was there as a student in the citizens police academy, a two-hour course intended to give an intimate look at what makes the department in the quaint Florida town work. On this night, the group of 35 would tour the station and talk with officers, an essential part of academy curriculum that has gained popularity across the country amid a heated national debate about police violence.

When it came time to get involved, Knowlton volunteered.

The hosting officers chose two students to role-play a lethal force simulation, a scenario intended to demonstrate how and when officers decide to pull the trigger. Knowlton played the victim, Charlotte Sun photographer Sue Paquin told the newspaper, and a Punta Gorda police officer played a “bad guy.” These scenarios are usually safe, acted out with either fake or empty weapons.

But when the officer’s gun was fired, Knowlton — a mother, wife and career librarian — was hit with a live round.

She was rushed to a local hospital and was pronounced dead.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...tizen-police-academy-lethal-force-simulation/

 

[blue32]

what in the hell? jesus.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

what in the hell? jesus.

First rule of building community relations is not to shoot the community.

 

[riverman]

sad...

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Yeah, watch a father shoot his kid with an empty weapon and go to prison but the cops play with them on purpose?

My gramps taught me to never point an empty weapon at anyone let alone pull the trigger.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Are today's cops young enough that they went to schools that forbid students from pointing a finger and saying "pew pew"?

I'm breaking out the word I'm not supposed to use. These people are fucking retarded.

 

[blue32]

That's so weird. In our police (citizens academy) thing I went to at the city they used plastic guns. And real guns they did bring in had no magazines in them; IIRC they were also open to see the breach clear.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

That's so weird. In our police (citizens academy) thing I went to at the city they used plastic guns. And real guns they did bring in had no magazines in them; IIRC they were also open to see the breach clear.

Damn, sounds like you got ripped off.

 

[theprunetang]

Florida is weird. I went to get pizza and a beer tonight and couldn't sit at the bar because the best barstools were occupied by children.

 

[Chris Craig]

Are today's cops young enough that they went to schools that forbid students from pointing a finger and saying "pew pew"?

I'm breaking out the word I'm not supposed to use. These people are fucking retarded.

Full retarded

 

[barfo]

Florida is weird. I went to get pizza and a beer tonight and couldn't sit at the bar because the best barstools were occupied by children.

Those are probably police officers posing as underage hookers.

barfo

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Those are probably police officers posing as underage hookers.

barfo

With a creepy dude peeking at them and taking pics. The surveillance video won't tell this story.

 

[theprunetang]

With a creepy dude peeking at them and taking pics. The surveillance video won't tell this story.

It is my sister taking the photo. The creepy man is me on the right rocking a gross Charlie Kelly beard, cause I can.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

It is my sister taking the photo. The creepy man is me on the right rocking a gross Charlie Kelly beard, cause I can.

I knew it was you, good thing it was a girl taking the pic and not some HCP looking dude or you might have been attacked if someone saw you.

With a girl taking the pics it seems less stalky.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Oh yeah, it looks more like a Charlie Manson beard.

 

[theprunetang]

I knew it was you, good thing it was a girl taking the pic and not some HCP looking dude or you might have been attacked if someone saw you.

With a girl taking the pics it seems less stalky.

Also, she's pregnant. And she put me in the shot, so she was just taking a shot of her brother...hehe. we thought about this. Just wanted to document kids sitting at the bar. Coming from serving in bars in Portland, it was the weirdest thing to see. That is illegal as shit in Oregon. We couldn't believe that that was "normal" here.

 

[theprunetang]

Oh yeah, it looks more like a Charlie Manson beard.

Yeah. It's shit. It's my first time trying to grow a beard and I don't give a shit cause I'm in Florida. Fuck it.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

 

[theprunetang]

Haha. Called it. I've always known my facial hair sucks. But, I'm only here in Florida for another month or two. I figured I'd grow it out and see how bad it gets around people I'll never see again.

 

[riverman]

Florida is weird. I went to get pizza and a beer tonight and couldn't sit at the bar because the best barstools were occupied by children.

Better check the milk cartons in the neighborhood...it is Florida

 

[riverman]

Florida is weird. I went to get pizza and a beer tonight and couldn't sit at the bar because the best barstools were occupied by children.

The guy in the back booth looks like Louis CK

 

[Nikolokolus]

Anybody familiar with Florida Man?

It's a thing for a reason.

 

[theprunetang]

Anybody familiar with Florida Man?

It's a thing for a reason.

I see it every day.







In the mirror.

 

[Further]

I heard she was a bad grandmother and nagged a lot

 

[Further]

kidding

 

[stampedehero]

Mary Knowlton arrived at the Punta Gorda, Fla., police station Tuesday night to learn how to be a community steward.

The 73-year-old was there as a student in the citizens police academy, a two-hour course intended to give an intimate look at what makes the department in the quaint Florida town work. On this night, the group of 35 would tour the station and talk with officers, an essential part of academy curriculum that has gained popularity across the country amid a heated national debate about police violence.

When it came time to get involved, Knowlton volunteered.

The hosting officers chose two students to role-play a lethal force simulation, a scenario intended to demonstrate how and when officers decide to pull the trigger. Knowlton played the victim, Charlotte Sun photographer Sue Paquin told the newspaper, and a Punta Gorda police officer played a “bad guy.” These scenarios are usually safe, acted out with either fake or empty weapons.

But when the officer’s gun was fired, Knowlton — a mother, wife and career librarian — was hit with a live round.

She was rushed to a local hospital and was pronounced dead.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...tizen-police-academy-lethal-force-simulation/

THE PUNTA GORDA police will assuredly be served and the cop was/is an idiot because he kept the magazine in the weapon. This is stupidity of the highest order ....a real FUBAR Even Saul Goodman could win this case.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Anybody familiar with Florida Man?

It's a thing for a reason.

Hahaha dickface johnson

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Yeah, watch a father shoot his kid with an empty weapon and go to prison but the cops play with them on purpose?

My gramps taught me to never point an empty weapon at anyone let alone pull the trigger.

Yeah i take muzzle control so seriously i get pissed off when people fuck around. I dont care if you checked it double checked it and let me check it 3 times. Dont point it at anyone.

 

[Nikolokolus]

On an unrelated/related note http://www.startribune.com/man-released-after-road-rage-death-killed-by-motorist/389836271/

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

On an unrelated/related note http://www.startribune.com/man-released-after-road-rage-death-killed-by-motorist/389836271/

When keeping it real goes wrong