Chicopee officer recovering from training accident

CHICOPEE, Mass. (AP) - Chicopee's acting police chief says an officer accidentally shot during a training exercise is in good condition at a Springfield hospital.

Chief Thomas Charette said Tuesday that the officer was shot on the side of his face Monday afternoon during a special weapons and tactics training exercise. He said loaded weapons were not supposed to be used at the time. He didn't identify the officer.

Charette said SWAT training has been suspended during an investigation of the accident.

The exercise was being conducted in a vacant housing area outside Westover Air Reserve Base. The property was donated to the city by the Navy about two years ago.

Hamden District Attorney Mark Mastroianni said Monday the accident is being investigated by state and Chicopee police, as is standard procedure.

Cox Media Group