McAlester Police Officer Shot During Training Exercise

Friday, December 3rd 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A McAlester police officer was shot in the back Thursday. Officials say the wounded officer was shot by another officer who apparently thought he had fired a paint pellet. McAlester Mayor Dale Covington said Officer Randy Davenport was flown by helicopter to a Tulsa hospital following the incident.

The McAlester Special Response Team, which is similar to a SWAT team, was practicing maneuvers in McAlester when the shooting occurred Thursday. Covington says "the officer that shot the other officer, he was supposed to have a paint gun. It turned out that he had a live shell in there. It was strictly an accident."

Police Lt. Gary Wansick says Davenport has been with the McAlester Police Department for 10 years. Covington says the other officer involved is also dedicated and professional. "He's been on the force for a lot of years; he's just another good officer. I can't imagine what he's going through, thinking he was going to have a paint ball come out and a 9mm come out. It's a bad deal."

Davenport is listed in critical condition.