Punta Gorda Police Couldn't Tell Blanks From Wadcutters When He Shot Librarian

Punta Gorda Police Couldn't Tell Blanks From Wadcutters When He Shot Librarian

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Punta Gorda (FL) Police officer Lee Coel didn’t know the difference between lead wadcutters (right, above) and .38 Special blanks (left) when he loaded his personally-owned Smith & Wesson Airweight revolver before a demonstration that saw him fire four rounds and kill a retired librarian in front of horrified onlookers.

Coel was fired from the Punta Gorda Police Department after he was charged with manslaughter in Mary Knowlton’s death. Knowlton turned and dropped after being hit, first going to her knees, then collapsing headfirst. Onlookers first thought it was part of the demonstration before the horror of what happened set in.

A note of caution from Greg Ellifritz, noted police officer and firearms instructor.

This is the consequence of hiring cops who aren’t “gun people.” Most current cops don’t carry revolvers, have never seen full wadcutter ammunition, or shot ammunition loaded in aluminum cases. Most police “instructors” know little more than the cops they train. The Blazer wadcutters looked sufficiently “different” from the ammunition the officer was used to firing that he assumed the wadcutters were blank cartridges, leading to tragedy.


It’s sad for me to say this, but if you are ever asked to volunteer for any police training drill, you should adamantly refuse. Most of the cops who run these “scenarios” don’t know enough to ensure your safety. Cops and citizens get shot in police training drills with alarming frequency. The only way to ensure you won’t be the next victim is to be as far as possible away from any police training exercises.