Officer Kimberly Potter, who fatally shot Daunte Wright, was training rookie at the time

The Minnesota police veteran who fatally shot Daunte Wright was training another officer at the time of her fatal mistake, according to her association rep.

Kimberly Potter, 48, was formally identified Monday night as the officer caught on bodycam footage Sunday thinking she was firing a Taser at the 20-year-old black man — instead gasping, “Holy s–t. I just shot him!”

At least one of the fellow officers with her was a rookie she was training in Brooklyn Center, a city less than 10 miles from where George Floyd died during an arrest last May, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association told the Star Tribune.

Potter was guiding a new officer in her role as a field training officer, association head Brian Peters told the paper.

“She’s just a very dedicated, passionate, good person,” Peters insisted.

“It’s completely devastating … She [is] just a good person, always willing to help out,” he told the paper.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump told “Good Morning America” on Tuesday that the officer’s role blows open an often-used argument that police-custody deaths result from a lack of experience or training.

“She was a training officer — so it’s not about training,” he insisted.

“It’s about implicit bias. It’s about giving the same respect and consideration to people of color that we give to white American citizens,” he said.

Crump also represents the family of George Floyd, who died when he was arrested last May in Minneapolis, less than 10 miles from where Wright died.

Ex-cop Derek Chauvin — currently on trial charged with Floyd’s murder — was a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis department who was also training rookies at the time.

Crump said in both cases the arresting officers could have just given tickets but instead “use the most force when it comes to dealing with marginalized minorities.”

Potter — who is married and has two adult sons — was first licensed as a police officer in Minnesota in 1995 at age 22, according to state records.

During her time with the Brooklyn Center Police Department, she has served on the force’s negotiation team and also been a union president for her department’s officers, the Star Tribune noted.

She was also a longtime member of the Law Enforcement Memorial Association, where she served on the “casket team” helping to honor fallen officers.

Potter earned more than $86,000, according to public records last updated in 2018. The average wage for city workers at the time was less than $26,000, the records show.

She is currently on administrative leave, with the mayor and Wright’s family calling for her to be fired.

“I would like to see justice served, and [Potter] held accountable for everything that she’s taken from us,” Daunte’s mom, Katie Wright, told “GMA” of the family also wanting to see charges brought.

Daunte’s father, Aubrey Wright, said they “cannot accept” that the fatal shooting was an accident.

“I lost my son, he’s never coming back,” the grieving dad told Robin Roberts.

“I can’t accept that … a mistake? That doesn’t even sound right. This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I can’t accept that,” he repeated.

Wright’s aunt, Naisha Wright, said Potter “needs to pay for what she did.”

“Accident? An accident? No, come on now … I own a 20,000-volt Taser. They don’t feel nothing like a gun,” she said in an emotional interview with CNN.

“He didn’t deserve to die,” she added. “My family’s blood is on their hands.”

Meanwhile, Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon insisted the fatal shooting was “an accidental discharge.”

“I think we can watch the video and ascertain whether she will be returning,” Gannon said of his officer.

Neither Potter, her family nor a criminal defense lawyer handling her case responded to requests for comment, the Star Tribune said.

Source: New York Post