© heavy.comMary Knowlton
A 73-year-old librarian became the latest victim of police in Punta Gorda, Florida. However, her tragic death — in front of 34 people, during an officer's demonstration about police use of deadly force — is far from the, unfortunately common, tales of violence by law enforcement.
Mary Knowlton signed up to be a student in the citizen police academy hosted by the Punta Gorda Police Department, intended to show residents of the small town why and how officers do what they do.
After the group of 35 participants toured the police station and spoke with officers — a popular public relations tactic used by departments across the country amid the epidemic of police violence — Knowlton and another person decided to volunteer for a
demonstration.
To illustrate how and when officers decide to use lethal force, the officer had the two students role-play a scenario putting citizens in cops' shoes. According to
Charlotte Sun photographer, Sue Paquin, who was there to cover the event, Knowlton
played the role of a victim, while the officer played "bad guy."
Such a simulation would ordinarily not pose any danger to participants, as weapons would either be fake or empty. Not this time. When the officer fired, live ammunition hit Knowlton — several times.
The elderly wife and mother was promptly rushed to Lee Memorial Hospital, but was pronounced dead.
"Our entire police department and all of our city leaders are absolutely devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event," said Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis in a press conference Tuesday night. "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."
Home to just 17,500 residents, the
Washington Post noted, Punta Gorda has been devastated by the tragedy, which Lewis called a "horrible accident," adding that "[e]veryone involved is in a state of overwhelming shock and grief."
Knowlton and her husband recently relocated to Florida from Scott County, Minnesota, where she had been a career librarian. She continued that work in the small town on Florida's western coast and served on the board of directors for the Friends of Punta Gorda Library.
Specifically where Knowlton was struck by the bullets and how many shots were fired have not yet been revealed by authorities. Why the gun used during the lethal force demonstration contained live ammunition instead of blanks as it was supposed to, has not been explained — though an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be conducted by Lewis' request.
The as-yet unidentified officer whose unwitting and horribly ironic accidental use of force killed Knowlton has been placed on administrative leave.
This particular citizen police academy, organized by the Chamber of Commerce, mirrors part of a free eight-week Citizen Academy hosted by the city, in which participants are given an "up-close and personal look" at city government,
according to the City of Punta Gorda website.
Photographs
posted on the Punta Gorda Police Department's site show simulations similar to the one in which Knowlton was killed, though the weapons appear, for the most part, to be fake.
Citizen police academies are named as a positive tool for departments to use in the final report from the
President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
As the
Post pointed out, there even exists a National Citizens Police Academy Association, whose
website explains: "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."
Good intentions, however, did nothing to prevent the killing of yet another unarmed, harmless person by police — however accidental the circumstances might have been."My mom was a saint," Knowlton's son, Steven, told CBS
This Morning in a statement. "Such a tremendous loss of a wonderful human being and the best mom a kid could ever hope for."
Comment: There is always more to a story as it unfolds.
The officer who shot Mary Knowlton, subsequently identified as Lee Coel, has a prior history of violations and excessive force before being hired by PGPD.
The weapons used (see Wink News video starting at 4:40) in demonstrations were supposed to be modified to not allow for live ammo. This particular gun had allegedly been used in demos before and the PGPD claims only blanks were available and only blanks could be used. In addition, three people have to check this weapon before use. So there is a question regarding this particular gun, its modification and the choice of ammo. Did Officer Coel use other than a modified gun? Indisputably, he used real bullets.
UPDATE 8/11/16: Police Chief Lewis
confirmed the officer was Lee Coel. He also assured the public that real guns will no longer be used during "shoot, don't shoot" exercises. "We do not have live ammunition or live weapons anywhere near the building or the room in which we're having these scenarios or these role players at all," said Sgt. Douglas Dever of the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
The weapon used in the incident was not in use among all officers, and is not similar to one that police officers are issued. "We believe that the particular caliber of the weapon used, that there were only blank rounds available to the officer,"
Coel's background:
A graduate of Broward College police academy.
A former Miramar officer with a troubled record, forced to resign at the end of 14 months.
Stripped of his gun and badge in 2013 from two complaints filed for excessive force.
Placed on administrative leave and failed to meet the department's probation period.
Committed two department policy violations.
.
As an officer of the Punta Gorda PD, he was sued for ordering his K-9 to attack an unarmed bicyclist who was riding at night without lights on his bike. Coel's report stated the man was coming at him, but dashcam video does not verify this. The dog tore into the defendant, gnawing his right side under his arm. The victim was hospitalized two weeks for severe injuries requiring surgery. The dog ate part of his armpit muscle. This case is ongoing.
Careful what you wish for?
I take it that she and her 'citizen police academy' members learned the 'why and how officers do what they do'?