At a Tuesday press conference, Lewis said didn’t want to divulge too many specifics because of an ongoing state investigation. The police chief also told of a police investigation now underway. He said his department believed the gun only had blanks available and was not sure how the gun being loaded was missed.
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Knowlton was 73, according to CNN affiliate WINK.
According to the Star Tribune, before retiring Knowlton was the librarian at Parkview Elementary School in Rosemount from 1988 to 2004.
Books and magazines lay scattered on tables of the home she shared in Florida with Gary, her husband of 55 years.
Police said she was “mistakenly struck with a live round” during the training.
In the scenario Knowlton, a librarian by profession, and her partner were pretending to be two citizens engaged in an altercation.
“The academy is created to give citizens an up-close and personal look at how city government functions and helps shape our community”, according to the city’s website.
This was a police-specific event sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce. Police spokesman Lt. Katie Heck said that the citizen academies normally use “simunition” guns that look real but fire non-lethal rounds. The exercise was created to promote the quick decisions police officers must often make while on the job.
The couple had two sons, Hartwigsen told the AP.
In Punta Gorda, the classes are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, according to the website, and are limited to 35 participants at a time. But in this case, a “revolver” was used by the officer, who was playing the “bad guy” while Knowlton took the part of a victim. The pair later returned to Mankato State for their education specialist degrees, joining forces on a thesis about the qualities of effective schools.
Her son, Steven, said his father is devastated. She was active in the women’s philanthropic organization, P.E.O.
“She was the salt of the earth, a handsome soul and the kindest woman you would know”, she said. Knowlton was originally from Austin, Minnesota.
“Mary was just a doer”, Hartwigsen said. “There are people who always have that positive radiance about them”. Steve Knowlton said, his eyes filling with tears. “Why did he have to shoot at her?. So obviously there’s a chance for danger there”.
Coel is being monitored by fellow officers. The involved officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation and is said to be with their friends and relatives at this time. “I am asking that if you pray, pray for Mary’s husband and family and for all of the officers and witnesses that were involved in this incident”.
Punta Gorda Police Chief Thomas Lewis said that it was a “horrible accident”.
Officer Oscar Vasquez of the Jacksonville, Illinois Police Department, who is president of the National Citizens Police Academy Association, said he had never heard of anyone taking part in such courses being fatally shot.
On Wednesday, a debate about whether the officer should have been armed was brewing on the Police Department’s page.
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An elderly librarian was shot and killed after attending a community event that showcases how police departments operate. Each academy is held and regulated by its own agency.
