Florida police revamp policies after fatal shooting at citizens training

By Jennifer Cruz

Mary Knowlton, 73, was shot and killed during a training exercise with the Punta Gorda Police Department last year. (Photo: Evening Standard)
Florida’s Punta Gorda Police Department recently released a slew of records pertaining to a 2016 shooting during a citizen’s safety training that left a 73-year-old woman dead when she was struck by a live round.
Among other details, the documents released show the current fate of the officers involved, policies which have changed as a result of the shooting, and the city’s settlement with the family of the victim.
The incident occurred on Aug. 9, 2016, at a citizen’s training attended by about 35 people. During a “shoot/don’t shoot” exercise, volunteers were supposed to go through a series of scenarios designed to promote understanding of when it is and is not acceptable to use deadly force.
However, during the exercise, one of the volunteers, 73-year-old Mary Knowlton, was struck with a live round. She was rushed to a local hospital and, despite efforts to save her, pronounced dead a short time later.
After the incident, Chief Tom Lewis said the shooting was a devastating, unimaginable event. He asked for prayers for Knowlton’s family, along with the others who participated in the training

Source: Guns.com