© Flickr/ Robert Kuykendall
A 73-year-old Florida librarian was shot and killed by police on Tuesday evening as she participated in a roleplaying scenario, in which officers make decisions about using lethal force.
Mary Knowlton was killed while roleplaying as an officer during a "shoot-don't shoot" exercise, hosted by the Punta Gorda Police Department. The officer she partnered with, who was playing the "bad guy,"
was not supposed to have live ammunition loaded in his weapon, and Knowlton was "mistakenly struck with a live round."
Knowlton was one of 35 participants in a "citizens academy" event, a free, eight-session course for residents to learn more about how the government and police function in their community.
"The Citizens and Police Officers meet each other face to face in a neutral, friendly setting and each becomes a person to the other," the
National Citizens Police Academy Association explains on their website. "In the past, citizens have simply seen a uniform, now they have an understanding about the person behind the badge."
Comment: Update: deputy Cooper has been reported dead.