Police: Middleborough officer ‘seriously injured’ during SWAT training exercise

Authorities say a Middleborough police officer was “seriously injured” Wednesday during a SWAT training exercise in Bridgewater. Bridgewater police and fire responded to the scene on the exterior grounds of MCI Bridgewater just after 11 a.m. after receiving a report that an officer participating in the regional police training exercise had sustained a serious wound to his hand, according to a joint statement from Bridgewater and Middleborough police, as well as Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT.“A preliminary investigation by the Bridgewater Police Department indicates that the officer, whose name is not being released, was using a 37 mm projectile launcher loaded with training rounds to aid in the SWAT training exercise when the device exploded in his hands,” authorities said. “At this time, investigators believe that the device malfunctioned.”According to the statement, the device is not carried during the normal course of an officer’s duties, but can be used for a variety of SWAT operations including smoke screens and decoy noisemaker rounds. “The officer was conducting high-level training as a member of our region’s vital SWAT unit when what appears to be a terrible accident occurred that left him with serious injuries,” Middleborough Chief Joseph Perkins said. “We wish our officer all the best as he receives treatment for his wounds.”The officer was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment of his injuries, which weren’t believed to be life-threatening.