PUNTA GORDA, Fla. -- A "Coffee with a Cop" got heated, Tuesday morning, as people took sides over whether to support the city's embattled police chief.
This comes right before suspended Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis faces a judge, who will decide whether to throw out his case, Friday.
Chief Lewis is facing Culpable Negligence charges, after one of his officers shot 73-year-old librarian Mary Knowlton during a shoot-dont-shoot police training scenario in August. Whether he is responsible has been debated ever since. "This is the culture of corruption we're talking about. People not willing to answer to their boss, the citizenry," said one person at the meeting.
Some however, did support the chief. "I've never had a problem with the police. I salute what you do. I know it's a difficult job, I know it's hard, but obviously, the problem here is that the situation [because of the shooting] has developed into a them versus us mentality," said another.
City manager Howard Kunik told Fox 4 they're still recovering from the tragic incident, but the police department's officers are still doing their job. "This is a tragic incident that we're dealing with. We'll deal with that incident. But the police department is still operating and providing the service they need to do," he said.
Meanwhile, supporters have started a fund for Chief Lewis' legal fees. They've raised more than $6,000.00.
If the judge doesn't dismiss the trial, it will begin in noon.
Fox 4 will provide the latest updates on this developing story.
